The media is suggesting President Obama will announce his Afghanistan war strategy on December 1st, 2009. In his address to the nation the President is expected to deploy an additional 35,000 troops in support of the strategy. All of this make me as the question who is it we are fighting?

As a result of providing safe haven to Osama Bin Laden, Afghanistan became the target of military forces. The initial goals of the war efforts were:

1. Capture all leaders of al-Qaeda
2. Close every terrorist training camp within the country
3. Hold open elections, allowing the people of Afghanistan the ability to direct their own future

While I have no ability to see what is going on within that country at this very moment, I am very aware Osama Bin Laden has not been captured, thus failing on point number one. As violence continues on a daily basis I would feel safe saying U.S. forces do not have full control of the country. If the military cannot claim military superiority within the country there is no way to say that every training camp is closed, failure point number two. The only success that can be claimed is open elections.

So, where does that leave the U.S.? Who is it we are fighting?

Are we fighting al-Qaeda, are we fighting what remains of the Taliban, or are we really targeting a bunch of pissed off, well armed, opium farmers? I think it is safe to ask if the Government even knows who we are fighting and why we are doing so.

In 2001 a full Congress supported military action; today it seems as if the war is aimless. While I would criticize President Obama for waiting so long to provide the additional troops asked for by the military, the development of a strategy is long over due AND appropriate for the Administration to address.

The military has failed on two of the three objectives, we the people need to know what the strategy is moving forward and who will be accountable for the efforts? The nation needs to see President Obama state the goals for Afghanistan, including a clear outline of who the enemy is and why we are fighting because, at this point, it is a futile effort.

Ok, someone with a background in Pakistani/Indian needs to help me understand what is going on between the two countries at this very moment.  News is coming out that Pakistan is amassing troops at the Pakistani/Indian border but I am not sure I understand the true catalyst for this movement.

I understand the history between the two countries, get the bad blood that exists, but I’m getting the sensation that there is more at work here than the attacks that took place in Mumbai roughly a month ago.

Just to make sure I am not missing something here, let me review.  

1. Attacks in Mumbai take place
2. India accuses militants in Pakistan of staging the attack, and the Pakistani government is not acting appropriately in response
3. Pakistan demands proof that Paki-based militants are to blame
4. Brink of war?

So, what am I missing?

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cranked up the rhetoric again today by accusing the United States of orchestrating the Georgian conflict in order to benefit a presidential candidate. While I do no believe this claim I wondered what, exactly, are the facts surrounding the conflict. Is Russia the “bad guy” in the story, is Russia trying to bring together the old communist union or is this country simply defending their rights as an independent nation.

Who attacked who?

The tension between Russia and Georgia has existed since 1991, if not longer. In this conflict, Georgia attacked the Russian backed Ossetian militia on or about August 7th. Russia responded by sending tanks in to support the militia. (source)

What has the rest of the world done in response?

The United States and NATO called on Russia to suspend it’s military operations. Furthermore, the US has sent two shipments of aid to Georgia.

Will the U.S. join in this conflict?

While I do not have a crystal ball, I do know that Georgia is not a member of NATO. My guess would be no.

My take on the situation is this: you have years of emotion and national pride on both sides. It looks like Georgia attacked Ossetia first, but not Russian territory and, as a results, both sides are pointing fingers attempting to lay the blame on the other party.

Did the U.S. orchestrate this attack? No. Did the U.S. do anything to stop this attack? No. Why? I think it is safe to say simply because the U.S. has no control over the Georgian government, they can choose their own path as an independent country.

With the cold war talk flying around between Russia and the US, I can see how tension between our two countries has grown. Russia has quickly turned from poor communist country into a wealthy power to be reckoned with due to their abundance of natural resources and it seems that as their wealth has grown, so has their desire to set the political tone in Eastern Europe. In this case, however, I believe the national pride on both sides (Russia and Georgia) are to blame.