As the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates Obama is faced with three choices, none of them pretty or easy: Send in gobs more troops, or have the current deployment stand and fight to the bitter end, or get out. Each one of these options is a massive problem for Obama.
So, what does he decide to do? None of the above. Today's Wall Street Journal, "But the commander [of troops in Afghanistan] has been told to delay submitting the troop request to the Pentagon at the direction of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other top civilian officials [read President Obama], according to defense officials." [Emphasis added.] It seems the administration wants to make yet another strategic review before decisions are made.
In other words, Obama is telling the troops in Afghanistan to 'hold the fort' until he figures out what to do.
This stance is a big gamble. Basically Obama is hoping nothing goes wrong in Afghanistan until he can make a decision.
And plenty can go wrong. The Taliban may very well continue their string of significant military victories. Sentiment in the Afghan government is turning against the United States as atrocities against civilians mount (even though the US tried to blame Germany for the last disaster). The battle for Afghan public opinion has been pretty much lost and won't get any better. And finally, telling your troops to table their request for help and to sit tight, is not exactly the way to inspire the troops to inspired combat.
All these factors will worsen as time goes on and as Obama scratches his head. The ice he is skating on is getting thinner and thinner.
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