2009 has been the deadliest year of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. There have been 247 American casualties and at the current pace the number of US casualties will double those of 2008 and nearly equal those lost from 2001-2007, combined. The US and NATO commander in Afghanistan General Stanley A. McChrystal requested additional troops from the Pentagon and President Obama on August 30th.
It has been 49 days since that request (7 weeks), and during that time 81 American military men have perished battling the Taliban, which is nearly two deaths per day. Since August 30th President Obama has dedicated time to calling Kanye West a jackass, spearheaded Chicago’s failed Olympic bid, commented on his Nobel Peace Prize, hosted a Latino themed party and has flown all over the nation trying to sell health care reform… meanwhile we continue to lose men, including four yesterday.
I know the President is busy and I know he must keep up his public appearances, but when the commander in charge of all of the NATO forces in a Afghanistan requests more troops you need to stop whatever you are doing and figure out how you can best assist him. The White House has said that it may be weeks before the President finally makes a decision on a new strategy in Afghanistan. I guess seven weeks isn’t enough? The bottom line is every day he waits to make a decision more brave American men die and the Taliban’s resolve strengthens.
In the forty-nine (and counting) days since Gen. McChrystal requested 60,000 additional troops we have lost 81 Americans, that’s nearly the number of the first three years of the war combined. Either Obama, Congress and the American people wake up and give all of our fighting men and women in Afghanistan everything they need to be victorious or we pack up our bags and get them the hell out of there. This has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with our elected officials getting their priorities straight… and until they do, the blood is on their hands.
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