Report shelved waiting decision

I'm told that the Pentagon is holding a report from General McChrystal pending a decision from the White House about what strategy it wishes to pursue. Yeah. That's what I'm hearing.

KABUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan has submitted a request for more troops, a spokesman said Saturday, but the Pentagon will hold it while President Barack Obama decides what strategy to pursue.

That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Make a decision then read the report.

Afghanistan is ours to win or lose, but it's time to make up our minds.

If our President hasn't made a decision yet, that means he hasn't had a strategy. To my mind, it might be good to read the report from the commander on the ground, then make a decision based on that report and other intelligence that we're able to gather. But that's just me. Whatthehell do I know?

I don't give a tinker's damn whether we fight in Afghanistan or not. The only thing I care about is 1) the vital interests of the United States and 2) the troops under our flag. I think it's important to ourselves and (how did Jefferson put it?) to a decent respect to the opinions of mankind that we finish this fight, rather than tuck tails and run. If we intend to finish this fight then it might be a good idea to read the report of the commander, fully resource his needs and unleash our boys and girls to finish the job.

I've long been of the opinion that US Servicemen are hindered by many things in combat, not the least of which are restrictive rules of engagement that actively hinder military operations. War is hell, and when we put an army in the field we should visit hell on all who oppose us.

But that's just me.