The Non-Decider

RedStateVT is still thinking about Afghanistan and what it will tell us about the Obama Administration. As the days drag on without a decision from the Commander-in-Chief, we cannot help but think back to the way in which GWB was derided when he labeled himself "the Decider." Now we have Obama as "Hamlet on the Potomac" or "the Non-Decider."

Let's re-create the timeline here. General Stanley McChrystal's report to Obama requesting more troops is reported to have been delivered on August 31. The report became public on September 20. Shortly thereafter, the General gave a speech in London, reiterating his call for more troops in what has been interpreted as an attempt to put pressure on the President. So by all accounts it has now been approximately 50 days since the request for 40,000 more troops was made.

Obama and "Rahm-bo" Emanuel must have concluded that they had to create some sort of a smokescreen to hide their indecision behind. And so this past weekend, Dems hit the talk shows - and even dragged out Uber-Military Strategist John Kerry (remember him?) - to explain that a decision couldn't be made until the Afghan government was more stable. As if!

Now, in an interesting development we have the following report from Fox News:

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that the Obama administration cannot wait for the Afghan election to be resolved before making a decision on troop levels, appearing to be at odds with White House officials who have tied a decision on U.S. strategy to the resolution of the election and political stability.

Will this be enough for the Non-Decider to make up his mind? Or will Gates get reprimanded the way McChrystal was? Stay tuned!