Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Recently, it seemed that Barack Obama was getting a new seriousness about foreign policy. During his Asian trip, he told an audience that the United States would not be leaving Afghanistan in July 2011, notwithstanding his previous comments to begin withdrawing troops then.

One of the colossal mistakes Obama made in announcing his Afghanistan "surge" was to concurrently announce the withdrawal of American troops 20 months later - thus giving comfort to the Taliban that they could wait out an impatient America and causing Hamid Karzai to accommodate the Taliban given his desire to secure political power for himself without the benefit of American power in the near-term.

So Obama's comments mark an attempt to change direction, give heart to America's allies in Afghanistan that we have staying power, and to cause our enemies to realize we aren't leaving until we secure our goals.

Likewise, within a few days of Obama's comments on Afghanistan, an administration official indicated the need for the American military to remain engaged in Iraq longer than previously discussed. Since this shift in policy was made during a belated effort by the Obama administration to resolve the political stand off in Iraq that has led to delays in forming a new government after elections this past March, it has the appearance that such an American commitment was demanded by some of the political parties in Iraq - since an American presence helps ensure that sectarian disputes don't turn into civil war.

Both these changes are critical to having America as favorable an outcome in Iraq and Afghanistan as we can, and it is a sign of growing maturity on the part of Obama to change course.

It may also be a recognition that now that the Obama has suffered a severe loss in the mid-term elections, his ability to achieve any of his agenda on domestic policy is in tatters - whereas foreign policy remains largely (but not entirely) his prerogative. This growing assertiveness of America's interests may also be a way for Obama to move right in preparation for the 2012 elections.

Unfortunately, all is not well with Obama's recent foreign policy pronouncements. While in Indonesia, he felt the need to criticize Israel again for building more housing in the Jerusalem. Obama's previous criticisms of Israel for such construction activity led to a breakdown in the very discussions between the Israelis and Palestinians that Obama so fervently wanted to encourage.

So Obama's recent maturation on foreign affairs can't fully overcome his desire to appease his Indonesian hosts nor his left wing base.

The Winning Side

Pakistan's capture of the second Taliban leader in recent weeks reflects their desire to have a voice in Afghanistan's affairs.

For years, the United States has been pressing Pakistan to do more to deal with the presence of Al Quaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan. Pakistan's help been limited, with its security service, the ISI, continuing to support the Taliban under the premise that some day the United States will tire of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan would want allies in Afghanistan.

But after much dithering, Barack Obama decided to "surge" troop levels and seek victory in Afghanistan. So Pakistan's calculation now changes, since accommodating America and working with our ally, Hamid Karzai, may now be the way Pakistan maintains its Afghan influence.

The left bemoaned the lack of allies supporting America. But they missed the key ingredient to securing support - the commitment of the United States to victory. Nations and groups want to ally themselves with the winner, not the loser. And until we demonstrated our intention to win in Afghanistan, others sat on the sidelines.

Obama to U.S. Military: Die for Nothing

Barack Obama's "thoughtful" review has produced the worst of all outcomes in Afghanistan: adding troops without a clear commitment to winning the war. By saying that the additional troops are temporary, with their withdrawl beginning 18 months from now, Obama sends the message to the enemy that they can wait us out.

For people we hope to keep or recruit to our side, from the Afghan and Pakistani governments to the Afghanis living with Taliban forces or sympathizers nearby, they have to worry we will abandon them later - and if so, they should abandon us today and accommodate the Taliban today.

But worse of all is the message to America's military personnel. We are sending you to fight, and some to die, but we don't have the courage or capacity to see the war through to victory. It would be more honorable to withdraw them all now, and not have a single soldier die, if we won't fight to win.

It is a despicable decision by the President.

Denmark to US: Get Your Act Together II

The civilian head of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, endorsed General Stanley McChrystal's strategy to add more troops to the Afghan war effort.

Meanwhile, Barack Obama continues to deliberate over whether to try to win the "war of necessity" (Obama's words) in Afghanistan.

UK to US: Get Your Act Together

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced plans to deploy 500 more troops to Afghanistan and indicated support for General Stanley McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy.

The timing of Brown's announcement is quite remarkable, since Barack Obama is engaging in a well-publicized, drawn-out debate within his administration on whether to carry out General McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy or pursue Joe Biden's counterterrorism strategy.

Gordon Brown is clearly trying to influence Obama's decision, and is a further sign that our allies are growing nervous at Obama's leadership. Obama called Afghanistan a "war of necessity" and critical to America's security throughout the presidential campaign and in the first seven months of his presidency, yet got cold feet when the effort looked harder than he hoped.

Even if Obama stays the course, Afghans and Pakistanis will now be more reluctant to side with America in the struggle against the terrorists and Taliban, due to Obama's waffling. Why side with someone who may abandon you, against someone who lives in your community?

While Obama's rhetoric may warm the hearts of leftists around the world, he is scaring key allies by waffling on the war on terror and in promoting nuclear disarmament as Iran works feverishly to develop nuclear weapons.