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Sunday, October 07, 2012

Operation Enduring Dither

Eleven years ago today, after the first 9/11 attacks, we began the Operation Enduring Freedom campaign in Afghanistan that resulted in the overthrow of the Taliban regime and the routing of al Qaeda who the Taliban hosted.

Today, President Obama continues to weigh options over the 9/11 Benghazi attacks and related embassy sieges:

President Obama has vowed to bring justice to those behind the Sept. 11 attacks in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, but the president hasn’t chosen what kind of justice that will be. Five administration officials tell The Daily Beast that the White House is now weighing whether to pursue those responsible through law enforcement or via military means like drone strikes or special operations.

If President Obama truly felt we are at war, he could have struck al Qaeda targets in northern Mali, whose al Qaeda franchise reportedly took part in the Libya attacks. And as a part of al Qaeda, we wouldn't even need to worry if they have their fingerprints on the Benghazi attack, since they are part of our enemy.

I certainly hope that the president isn't going to choose the law enforcement route. We already know who he is arresting at this point.

But perhaps the president's knowledge that even the Afghanistan campaign was the "good war" only as long as anti-war activists wanted to focus on losing the Iraq War is staying his hand. He knows his base prefers retreat and it would be a shame to disappoint them now so close to the election.