No Time to Draw Down

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Published: Jun 23, 2011

No Time to Draw Down

Did President Obama in his address to the nation Wednesday night declare victory and that’s why he announced a cut over the next year of 33,00 troops? Not at all. In fact there was no mention of victory or even success in our declared mission.

There was talk of progress, but progress in Afghanistan came because of the surge. So if the newest troops are removed, what is to prevent the ever-patient Taliban and al-Qaeda from returning?

Sixty terrorists, including al-Qaeda members, escaped from a Yemini prison this week. They could easily go to Afghanistan. These people never seem to run out of troops. They’re not pulling out. They’re re-loading.

No one likes war and it does cost too much. We can’t police the world, but we didn’t start this war and if we don’t finish it on our terms, we could lose it. It is no coincidence there has been no successful organized attack on America since 9/11. It’s Obama’s war and if we are attacked again, he will shoulder the blame, fair or not.

This article published on June 24, 2011. Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

No Time to Draw Down