Why Afghanistan Matters

Why Afghanistan Matters – Clifford D. May, Washington Times opinion.

Eight years ago this week, Osama bin Laden watched and then celebrated as a terrorist attack he had authorized brought down the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon, slaughtering thousands of innocent Americans.

Bin Laden was, at that time, in Afghanistan, which was, at that time, ruled by the Taliban. Soon, US forces and their anti-Taliban Afghan allies would chase bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar across the border into the wild tribal areas of northwest Pakistan. From that base, they would organize an insurgency against US and NATO forces and a new Afghan government.

Conservatives are now divided over this conflict. The debate on the right is interesting but academic. Barack Obama – no conservative – is president. During his campaign for the White House, he blasted President Bush for diverting to Iraq resources needed for Afghanistan, the “good war,” the war that, he emphasized, must be fought and won.

If Mr. Obama intends for this mission to succeed, he will have to return to this theme. He will have to use his not-inconsiderable powers of persuasion to make the case that Afghanistan is both worth winning and winnable. If he cannot bring himself to do that – with at least as much passion as he has put into the debate on health care – support for Afghanistan will collapse, and nothing pro-mission conservatives say, write or do will prevent it. Does history offer any precedent of an ambivalent commander in chief leading a nation to victory in war? …

More at The Washington Times.