While campaigning for the presidency, Barack Obama vehemently and vociferously excoriated the Bush Administration for its draconian war policies in Iraq and Afghanistan, promising a change in course if he won the election.
Well, almost seven months into his administration, things are not all working out the way Obama anticipated. The president, among other actions, has embraced military tribunals, suspended habeas corpus for some of the most despicable terrorists, and prohibited the publication of photos showing the alleged torture of enemy combatants. Although to his credit, the U.S. involvement in Iraq is winding down, the war in Afghanistan against theTaliban continues to worsen, and as a result, Obama has ordered an additional 21,000 troops deployed there.
Suffice to say, the president is learning a valuable lesson in pragmatism; wherein, while it’s easy to make campaign promises, often times it’s exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to keep them.
Gene Carton
Olivette