The President’s Visit.

With almost no warning President Obama popped up in Afghanistan. Security was given as the reason for the minimal notice of an hour. I suspect seeing things as they are, before bad stuff could be hidden, was much the more powerful motivation for the sudden arrival. When dealing with one of the most corrupt governments in the world you have to be savvy. 

This vist has enhanced the President’s stature still further. The troops loved it. There was tough talk for the Taliban, though both they and the President know they will sooner or later have to talk together. He knows too the greater the military squeeze his Generals can exert the more pliant the Taliban will be as partners in a peace deal. The blustering about Al Qaeda was just jingo to soothe the ears of Sarah Palin’s supporters. He knows that the terrorists can just go somewhere else. She, who had never heard of Afghanistan until she put herself forward for national leadership, will not counter that. She is too busy saving freedom. Freedom to go bankrupt trying to save the health of a loved one. This is just the same freedom needed to keep slaves or operate segregation. Palin who knows so little, does not know that. 

Her President knows that freedom brings the responsibility to care for the plight of the less fortunate and  to act to ease their burden. Otherwise freedom fades away.