from this side: a brief opinion

The following is an example of the principle of inherency I talked about in earlier posts.

In this particular example, I am online at an Organize for America website designed to air views regarding President Barack Obama's policies.

Here, I have grounded my opinions on that which I believe is inherent in the particular situation regarding the President's recent decision regarding Afghanistan:

namely, the Afghanistanian People themselves: starting with the poor and disenfranchised Farmers in the region, to the municipal and regional authorities in the Provinces and the District Chiefs and finally ending with the general Administration centered in Kabul are the main source from where resolution must come.

Unlike many who have come before him, our President has taken a Stand. After doing a little bit of research, I have found some points I wish to share.

First, the comparison to Vietnam is only partially correct. The current situation in Afghanistan more closely parallels this country's activities in Cambodia and Laos in early 70's.

 

If some of you will recall, Special Forces had approached the Hmong in Cambodia in an attempt to enlist and then train the native population there at the time, in an effort to mobilize the grassroots against the National Liberation Front in North Vietnam. But then President Nixon wanted quicker results so he took control and before he was through, he had effectively emboldened the indigenous Communist movements in both Cambodia and Laos to seize power instead of the Hmong.

Fast forward to today.

 

Our current President has elected to follow a strategy that is specifically designed to work in a similar situation where our country's past efforts failed.

Combining military effort as lowland and major road containment and support, allows Reconnaissance, Airborne and Navy Seal Teams to effectively deploy and infiltrate Al Qaeda and Taliban Mountain Positions. They are the anvil in this sense whereas; the general troop concentration and technical support will be the hammer. This appears to be the most effective strategy and if Nixon had not interfered in Cambodia and Laos in the early 1970's, there may have been an entirely different outcome in that region.

 

Debatable? Of course. However, consider The President's plan also calls for Civilian and Municapal Improvements as well as strengthened ties with Pakistan.

In the research I have done so far, this was the plan in Cambodia and Laos until Nixon stepped in and decided to make South East Asia, his crowning jewel in his so called "law and Order" Administration.

 

The main thing we all must understand is President Obama is attempting to literally fly in the face of the Truman Doctrine.

Yes, I know that was all about Communism and the "domino theory" But consider how "terrorism" especially since the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11 has taken the place of this country's "unseen" enemy. We are still wrestling with that ghost of Cold War mentality here. I do not know if the President is fully aware of this. Osama Bin Laden's location is still unknown. Al Qaeda continues to enjoy unlimited Internet access and we still do not know where they are. Organizationally, they get their money from somewhere; we still do not where or how. Our President's position is not perfect, but the world we have inherited is not perfect.

 

He is brave, our first African American President: I will give him that, and like all of us, he is prone to his share of mistakes. Yet, in an imperfect world who among us can begin to claim we could do better?

 

Thoughts from

Tom.