We had to rush the bailout, stimulus, health care and cap and trade but our troops have to wait.

It has been 35 days since General Stanley McChrystal, commander of our forces in Afghanistan submitted his request for additional troops.  McChrystal’s assessment of the situation is quite stark saying that if the necessary manpower isn’t sent soon, the mission “will likely result in failure.”

The picture painted is not pretty but McChrystal’s plan calls for an Iraq-like ‘surge’ of additional forces to bolster the troops already in country.  Emphasizing the need, he says, “Failure to provide adequate resources also risks a longer conflict, greater casualties, higher overall costs, and ultimately, a critical loss of political support. Any of these risks, in turn, are likely to result in mission failure.”

So what is the question? SEND THE TROOPS. 

But no, we have not done that yet.  White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Wednesday that the president “will take the next several weeks to review our strategy.” 

Are you kidding me?  Mr. President?  Is it not clear to you that while you take ‘several weeks’ you are endangering our troops? 

While you enjoyed a date night with your wife last night, 10 brave American heroes died this weekend.  Hope you enjoyed your dinner.

We had to rush the bailout to save the automakers.  We had to rush the stimulus to save the banks.  We have to rush health care reform to fix something that isn’t all that broke.  We have to rush cap and trade to fix manmade climate change which may or may not exist.

And yet, here we are and we can’t rush to the aid of the brave men and women who serve this nation? 

Send them what they need or bring them home, Mr. President.  Don’t let your failure of leadership cost us any more of our sons, daughters, husbands and wives.

• View General McChrystal’s Report
• Washington Post: McChrystal: More Forces or ‘Mission Failure’ 
• AFP: On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot

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