Advice on Afghanistan

Dear President Obama, or his Web Blog Advisor,

As evidenced by our recent impact on the English language with the re-defining of the word “pussy,” this is a very influential blog, and you are well advised to pay attention.

It seems obvious that the eventual outcome in Afghanistan will be a negotiated settlement with “moderate elements of” the Taliban. If this is the case, then why are we still killing and dying there? What are you waiting for? If you are going to negotiate a settlement at some point, why not do it now? Look at what waiting brought us in Korea: lots more dead until the leaders finally sat down & negotiated a way out.

I sincerely hope that you are not getting caught up in the testosterone trap of having to look like you’re in charge or on top before you can negotiate. You said yourself, Mr President, that the willingness to talk to your “enemies” is a sign of strength, not weakness.

So while you are discussing with advisors how many troops to send or not send, perhaps thinking about what number would sound strong and aggressive yet reasoned and  non-escalatory, you should really consider taking this opportunity to begin direct negotiations with all combatants to form a stable self-sustaining nation.

That’s really the plan, isn’t it? So why delay? Why are you having people shoot each other over this or that hill or embankment? Just get to the real work of talking to all of the Afghanis.

p.s. You may think that “non-escalatory” isn’t a word, but as noted above, this blog has the power to make new words at will. So scrantum.

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