Afghanistan: The “Dithering” Ends. The Soldiering Begins.

Tuesday night, after months of careful deliberation—some have called it “dithering,” Gen. McChrystal recently called it a “thoughtful process”— President Obama will, before an audience of resplendent cadets at storied West Point, announce to the nation how many additional American troops will be sent to fight in Afghanistan.

It is expected that the President will call for a phased deployment of between 30,000 and 35,000 new troops to Afghanistan over the next 12 to 18 months.

Such decisions on numbers, so-called “surges,” were made routinely and almost cavalierly by the previous administration for the war in Iraq, while at the same time failing to provide focus, material and human resources to the war in Afghanistan.

President Obama’s deliberations and decisions, however, have gone far beyond just numbers.

We understand that his announcement will include a clear rationale for what America is doing in Afghanistan, clear goals, performance targets and target dates, a clear strategy to achieve those goals and targets, and “exit ramps”: How to ultimately get our troops out—something that has recently proven much more difficult than how to place our troops in harm’s way. America deserves nothing less.

It is also expected that the president will outline political reforms, anti-corruption measures and demand a much more intensive and earnest participation and commitment in and by Afghanistan in their own self-defense. Also, that he will emphasize what he sees as the obligations and roles of our international partners in this joint effort. America expects nothing less from Afghanistan and from our allies.

No doubt, the sniping from his detractors on the far right will continue unabated. However, 10 months into his presidency, Mr. Obama should have developed the thick skin and the skills to let such attacks suffer the ignominy they deserve.

Some will continue to quibble over what the precise number of additional troops we commit to Afghanistan should be: less than 30,000; more than 50,000; 80,000; none…

But I believe that, to their credit, the GOP will support the Obama plan for Afghanistan, albeit perhaps reticently and conditionally.

More difficult for the president will be the stinging criticism he will surely receive from members of his own party in Congress, from Democrats and liberals in general, and especially from those on the far left who were his most ardent supporters during the presidential campaign and elections.

Anticipating his decision for a troop build-up, several prominent Democrats have already been expressing concern—opposition at times—not only about the expected escalation, but also about the significant cost and how to pay for it; about how the increased spending could adversely affect not only the party’s domestic agenda but also Obama’s own efforts to improve the U.S. economy; and about campaign promises made and perhaps not kept.

Tuesday night’s speech by the president will not stop all criticism, dispel every concern, or silence the debate.

General McChrystal, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen and others are expected to appear before Congress and congressional committees to testify on the new strategy. There will be lots more hearings, editorials, speeches, commentary, debate…

America is war-weary and Americans are skeptical and divided—right down the middle—on Afghanistan. While the president has promised—and will probably promise again Tuesday—to “finish the job,” he can not guarantee success, he can not deny the additional sacrifices that will be required of our troops, and he can not hide the additional costs to the taxpayers. It all points to a tough sell, probably the toughest of his presidency, but one that the president must clinch.

Just like “Hope” and “Change” were part of Obama’s campaign slogan, he must now hope that the GOP support he may receive is neither fleeting nor calculated, and that a majority of Democrats—legislators and voters—will change their views on Afghanistan and rally behind their standard bearer, now a wartime Commander-in-Chief.

While I personally have mixed emotions about our future role in Afghanistan, my hope is that, once the inevitable additional “dithering” is done, we let the soldiering begin, giving our generals and our troops the trust they deserve and the support they need to get the job done.

I’ll be watching Tuesday night. But, more important, I’ll be watching and listening the days and weeks to come.

Image: Courtesy west-point.org