[Wolf07]

To be fair to the POTUS and to the United States Government at large, the reaction from the Liberal and International community to the condemnation of Islam would be extremely negative and would undermine United States foreign policy. If we must lie, let us lie with a smile.

I was not any more pleased then the rest of you at the way in which the President worded that part of his speech. Apart from that, however... the fact that the President dedicated a considerable portion of the speech to explaining why we were fighting in Afghanistan was immensely important. Also, he clearly stated that we would be withdrawing in a responsible manner. This is his back door to explain why we aren't going to be withdrawing from Afghanistan a few years down the road. What he said let off some pressure, and buys us valuable time in the war.

There were bad parts, yes. There are things said that I must disagree with. I must say, however, that this was the first time that the President spoke and I felt I was listening to an American leader. Obama has plenty of time left in office, and I have reason to believe this will not all be time wasted.

My two cents.

///Edited Note: I am yet to read a detailed outline of the plan. I would very much like to read such an outline. If it is true that McCrystal thinks this plan can work, that definitely bolsters my confidence. I hold him in high regard.