But first… Michael Steele. Those who read this column regularly will know that I have had some reservations about Michael Steele’s leadership of the RNC. These misgivings had more to do with what I perceived to be a lack of leadership qualities on his part, rather than some of the other criticisms that were cast about out there. Lately, it seems that he can’t open his mouth without putting his foot in it. His latest foray into shoe leather has produced a tempest that may not be shoved under the stoop so easily.
Afghanistan is not Barack Obama’s war. Barack Obama made it his war. Afghanistan was treated like a sideshow during the early years of the Iraq war. After initial successes there it was relegated to a backwater status and put on auto-pilot while assets were concentrated elsewhere. Not a smart thing to do with a conflict in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, against one of the most vicious enemies on the planet.
Barack Obama attempted to use Afghanistan as a foil against the war in Iraq, which he had often and vociferously promised his nutcake base that he would bring to an end, and have the troops marching home with flowers in their rifle barrels. Obama was unprepared (gee, what a surprise) and badly advised about the conditions on the ground there. That crowd of Marxist academics he has surrounding him could be much better employed sharpening pencils or counting paper clips… anything but making policy.
Obama once again deluded himself that we could somehow win the Afghanistan affair by not winning it. Hence the months of purposeful foot dragging (sounds like the gulf oil spill, doesn’t it?) in responding to his theater commander’s troop requirements which have yet to be met in full.
Michael Steele is not so much wrong in fact as in substance. Yea verily, it is Obama’s war… now. What is apparent is the lack of depth and understanding of Steele’s ill-considered statement. I’m concerned about the “leader” of the Republican National Committee being so thoughtless… thoughtless about the context of what he said and the historical context in which he said it.
At a stage when we, as Conservative Republicans, are demanding more and more from our representatives… I’m just not sure he’s the right guy for these times.
Semper Vigilans, Semper Fidelis
© Skip MacLure 2010
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