I am a life long democrat and am very proud if it. I was a township coordinator in Indiana, a state that went blue in 2008 for the first time in 1964 and for that momentous occassion, I am very proud of as well. I must me honest though. I read these blogs and I recognize the frustration and anger with Obama's coming plan to send more troops to Afghanistan. However, I don't understand them.
I must admit, I turned on Hannity last night for 5 minutes and heard Karl Rove being interviewed, and as much as I hate to admit it, he said something that I agreed with. He said that during the campaign last year, President Obama spoke out regarding the Afghan war as "a war of necessity". And now, liberals and democrats are blasting him for his decision. Have we forgotten this? Have we forgotten that John Kerry, in 2004, campaigned on Bush attacking Iraq, "a war of choice", instead of focusing on Afghanistan "a war of necessity"? Have we already forgotten our support on those positions? President Obama made it quite clear about getting out of Iraq as quickly as possible and focusing on Afghanistan.
Bush royally screwed up in Afghanistan and we all know this. The Bush administartion are the ones that dithered. Their the ones who took their eye off of Afghanistan and focused on Iraq, as John Kerry and President Obama stated during their campaigns. President Obama vowed to finish the job in Afghanistan. Yet, nobody complained in 2008. Bush and his cronies protected the cities in Afghanistan and left the rest of the country to the Taliban and Al Queda. That's not victory. If we pull out now, what do you think is going to happen? You think Karzai stands a chance or their government? You don't think Afghanistan will fall into their hands again?
I don't like the escalation of this war as much as anyone else does. I don't like seeing our brave men and women being put in harms way. I will pray for them nightly for God to protect and watch over them. But, it is necessary. This is the war of necessity, which must be won, which is what democrats have been saying for 8 years. 8 years!! Unfortunately, we are to the point where it is as if the war is starting all over again. Why do you think deaths are on the rise in Afghanistan and the Taliban are attacking again? It is because we finally have a president who is saying "enough is enough". Our attacks on them have increased. We are going after them and just not staying in the cities. They are finally doing something about it. Our troops are no longer allowing them to roam free in their own little areas. Although they still need to do more, Pakistan has been increasing their attacks on Al Queda and Taliban in their own country as well.
Trust me, I am nervous about the speech tonight. I want to hear the plan and reflect on it by myself as well. My father always said that the best decisions are made using your heart AND mind, just not one of them. I am confident that President Obama has used both and not rushed into a decision. He resisted heckles to those that say he was "dithering". He wanted to get it right and I am sure he spent many nights soul searching and reflecting. He is not cold like some other presidents.
I agreed with Kerry in 2004, Obama in 2008, and am still with Obama in 2009. We need to do what is necessary.