The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

September 2, 2010

Obama doesn't get Iraq, and Afghanistan conflict could be tougher

Enid News and Eagle

It has been a long and tough fight. It has been controversial, and it has had its successes and failures. It has cost billions and thousands of lives.

And even though the official U.S. combat operations in Iraq have ended, it is important the American people understand the reality of the U.S. efforts in Iraq, against terrorism in general and the U.S. efforts in curtailing even more dangerous regimes.

President Barack Obama used an oval office address to announce the official end of the combat phase of operation. The speech and the setting took the proper tone of reverence and caution. He thanked the troops and their families, and he acknowledged his predecessor’s passion and belief in the mission.

Unfortunately, even after nearly two years in office and the weight of Afghanistan squarely on his shoulders now, it seems the president still doesn’t “get” what was accomplished in Iraq. He still seems a little tenuous about the war against terrorism.

We know from his 2008 campaign speeches that he was against the war in Iraq. We know he did not support the troop surge that ultimately enabled the U.S. to get to this goal of ending official combat missions.

We give credit to the Obama administration for doing mostly the right thing in Iraq since he became president. While we can acknowledge the hardest part of the efforts in Iraq appear to be over now, we also can’t really “turn the page” as the president wishes.

The war in Afghanistan has the potential to be even harder than our efforts in Iraq. The democracy that is starting in Iraq is fragile. And, pockets of instability are appearing all the time. While the combat mission in Iraq may be over, the fight against terrorism continues.

We know the president wants to concentrate on policy making and on the economy. We certainly agree the economy is a top priority. However, America’s security and the fight against terrorism will be a challenge for this administration and for future administrations for years to come.

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