Tonight President Barack Obama as US Commander in Chief will advise Americans of his decision to deploy up 30,000 plus troops to trouble spot Afghanistan. His decision will come after months of careful deliberation. His decision will add billions to the US deficit at a time when its economy is trying to rebound from a deep recession. President Obama like Prime Minister Thompson has quickly realised the making of election promises is a whole different ballgame compared to when in government.
If we were list the hotspots in US foreign policy, top of mind are: Iraq, Israel-Palestine, North Korea, Iran and Afghanistan of course. Does President Barack Obama believe his well trained soldiers can outmanoeuvre the Taliban who continue to use the rugged terrain of that region to good advantage? The Americans were led to believe by former President Bush that it would have been a slam-dunk to nail Osama Bin Laden. The inability of the Americans to control Afghanistan clearly demonstrates how superior knowledge of local conditions can compensate with superior weaponry.
Sad to say Obama like many of his predecessors find himself in deep dodo. Should he withdraw his soldiers from Afghanistan or remain with the possibility of his country becoming sucked into a Vietnam like situation? President Obama is regarded as a student of history, if he is he must know that any adversary who believes the cause is just will be motivated to defend it to the death!
Of further concern to Obama is the lukewarm response NATO ally is giving his request for additional troops. Ordinary citizens in Europe continue to struggle to see light at the end of the Afghan tunnel. On top of it all is the US puppet and corrupt government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
On another note, are Barbadians interested in the decision President Obama will deliver tonight? Are Caribbean governments aware of its geo-political significance? Why are we in the region not speaking out on foreign policy issues of all flavours? As a region we seem to have gotten dumber and dumber on these issues, instead we prefer to cower when confronted with foreign policy issues of a global variety.
The words of the late Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow continues to resonate and remain as relevant today, we will be friends of all and satellites of none.






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