President Barack Obama has said he is committed to finishing the job in Afghanistan. It’s not immediatly clear what he meant by that statement. There is speculation.
Since the initial point of the military invasion of the country in central Asia was to oust the Taliban — the country’s ruling party that harbored the terrorist organization al-Qaida — and catch those who were the organizers of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. soil, perhaps the plan is to boost military numbers in order to continue along that path. The hopeful end result being to kill, or arrest and prosecute the top members of the terrorist organization.
Perhaps the president views the desired final result to be nation building in a country that has never suppported a strong, central national identity.
Just maybe, it’s a combination of these two missions.
Whatever Mr. Obama’s real vision is, it will mean more members of the United States military will be in Afghanistan until that mission is complete.
Either of those definitions of a completed mission mean we can expect more years of families separated during the holidays by the duties of military service.
As those of us who are lucky enough to join hands around the dinner table with our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters do so, we should add an extra blessing for those who will be digging turkey delight out of an MRE on the front lines of the fight against terrorism.
And to everyone, Happy Thanksgiving.
