Defeat in Afghanistan is not an option
December 1, 2009 | By Amanda Reinecker
This evening at 8:00 Eastern time, President Obama will reveal to the American people his long-awaited plans for Afghanistan. There is much at stake.
» Read the top ten questions and answers on Obama's strategy in Afghanistan.
In a report submitted in late August (link in PDF), Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander in Afghanistan wrote: "The situation in Afghanistan is serious. The mission is achievable, but success demands a fundamentally new approach – one that is properly resourced and supported by better unity of effort."
In his address at West Point tonight, the president is expected to approve an additional 30,000-34,000 troops to "finish the Afghanistan job" and to call for withdrawal within three years. This past October, General McChrystal requested a minimum of 40,000 troops in order to avert a "high risk of failure." Finishing the job is important, but successfully finishing the job imperative.
Unfortunately, U.S. involvement in Afghanistan has become a highly partisan issue. Liberals are pressuring the president to reject McChrystal's request and instead establish a framework for immediate withdrawal. But this would be a mistake. "Not only would it allow a safe space for al Qaeda to operate," writes Heritage's Conn Carroll, "but it could also destabilize Pakistan, whom we should never forget has nuclear weapons."
Failure to "defeat the Taliban, destroy al Qaeda and establish a free, sovereign Afghanistan…is not an option, for it would be a direct threat to our national well being," Heritage Vice President Kim Holmes argues on National Review Online. "That's not theory, it's a historical fact."
After helping defeat the Soviet invasion, the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in the 1990s, Holmes explains. But the very problems we mistakenly thought we had put to rest back then are back -- "only this time, things could be worse," warns Holmes. Failing to commit the resources necessary -- a minimum of 40,000 troops to start -- "would recreate the exact conditions that produced the 9/11 attacks." That's not a risk the president should be willing to take.
Heritage on the ground in Honduras
After months of political crisis, Hondurans have elected a new president: Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo of the center-right National Party. "The Honduran people voted for sanity, normality, and a chance to make their own future," Heritage expert Ray Walser explains.
Walser traveled to Honduras with his Heritage colleagues Jim Roberts and Israel Ortega to serve as election observers. They helped ensure the process of restoring democratic rule after former President Manuel Zelaya tried this year to subvert his country's constitution.
The three Heritage observers participated in the Washington Senior Observer Group, which released the following statement:
We witnessed the enthusiastic desire of thousands of Honduran citizens to cast their ballots. Many took time to thank us for our presence today. Without exception, they expressed confidence in the electoral system, pride in exercising their right to vote, and a profound hope that their election is a decisive step toward the restoration of the constitutional and democratic order in Honduras.
Honduran democracy was called into question in June when then-president Zelaya tried unconstitutionally to extend his term in office. The country's Supreme Court quickly ousted Zelaya for this transgression and replaced him with interim president Robert Micheletti.
Zelaya made a number of failed attempts to reclaim his presidency, and drew international support from leftists like Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Brazil's Luiz da Silva and even the Obama administration. Despite this international pressure, the defiant Hondurans stood by their constitution and refused Zelaya's return.
"Thankfully, the Obama administration eventually realized the error of their ways and helped broker a deal between Zelaya and the interim government on October 29th," writes Heritage's Conn Carroll. A legitimate and transparent election was a critical component of this agreement.
The deal "also gives hope that the United States will stop alienating its many Honduran friends who feel that expelling Zelaya, a Hugo Chavez wannabee, was not only warranted but necessary to save their constitution," explains Walser.
Although Zelaya and his supporters used intimidation tactics to suppress voter turnout, 61 percent of Hondurans cast their votes, a substantial increase in participation over the 2005 election. Still, Zelaya challenges the legitimacy of the election results.
It's now time for "the Obama administration [to] assert itself and make sure that Zelaya does not derail the electoral process and steal Honduras from its people," writes Carroll.
Other Heritage work of note
- The true cost of the Senate health care bill is likely to be close to $2.5 trillion, according to Heritage Foundation analysis—roughly three times what the Left has advertised. "The true cost is hidden by a host of budget gimmicks, including the fact that higher taxes would start immediately but any benefits wouldn't come for years," reveals Heritage's Dan Holler. This deflated price tag also hides massive cuts to doctors' reimbursement rates. Two weeks ago, 60 Senators voted to begin debate on the bill, which Holler said "is almost always a vote to pass the bill."
- There may be one upside to Congress biting off more than it can chew this year: if lawmakers don't act, the death tax rate will drop to zero in 2010. "But this victory is fleeting, and, like a creature in a late-night horror movie, the death tax comes back with a vengeance in 2011 at its 2001 rate of 55 percent," warns Heritage legal scholar Robert Alt. Instead of extending the 2010 tax rate as they should, some liberals actually want to keep the 2009 rate intact or even raise the rate.
- The Washington, D.C. city council is scheduled to vote on a same-sex "marriage" bill, which could imperil 68,000 city residents who depend on private charity. The proposed law could impose new restrictions on how religious organizations like Catholic Charities operate. "At issue is the fact that D.C. government partners with Catholic Charities to serve residents' needs," writes Heritage expert Ryan Messmore. "If the group refuses to abide by new regulations in the bill, the city could threaten lawsuits, denial of funds and the loss of necessary licenses."
- Heritage fellow and former Congressman Ernest Istook appeared on Ed Schultz's radio show and gave the liberal host a run for his money in a debate about Congress' health care proposal. Columnist Jack Coleman sums up their discussion this way: "Schultz made the mistake of allowing a guest on his radio show Tuesday who knew what he was talking about."
» Read the transcript and listen to the exchange at NewsBusters.
- The man suspected of killing four Seattle-area police officers was fatally shot by an officer this morning. Heritage crime expert David Muhlhausen offers his take on the case on National Review Online:
"First, part of the fault falls on state politicians who want to be perceived as tough on crime. They pass lengthy criminal sentences to send a message that they are tough on crime. However, many of the offenders will serve only a fraction of their sentences. Parole and good time credits can drastically reduce the time served in prison to a fraction of the original sentence. According to the Seattle Times, Clemmons received two sentences for 48 and 60 years of incarceration. Based on the 60-year sentence, Clemmons served only 11 years (18 percent) before Governor Huckabee granted clemency. Second, Clemmons's criminal record should have sent alarm bells ringing that this man should not be released on bail in Washington state. Without these breakdowns, the murder of the four police officers could have been prevented."
In other news
- Key evidence of climate change, which the left uses to promote radical controls on the economy, has gone missing. London's Times reports: "Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have admitted throwing away much of the raw temperature data on which their predictions of global warming are based."
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Sunday that Iran's government will build ten new sites to enrich uranium.
- According to Rasmussen Reports, 71 percent of voters say they're frustrated with federal policies, and nearly half are "very angry."
- Russia is kindling its military relationship with Venezuela by building arms plants in the region to produce AK-103 automatic rifles and cartridges. Venezuela has increased its defense capacity considerably since 2001, when the two nations made their arms agreement.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.
- On Thursday, December 3 at 1 p.m. join us for the release of A Renewed Call to Truth, Prudence, and Protection of the Poor: An Evangelical Examination of the Theology, Science, and Economics of Global Warming.
Amanda Reinecker is a writer for MyHeritage.org-- a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Nathaniel Ward, the Editor of MyHeritage.org, contributed to this report.
