Obama Lauds ‘On Track’ Afghan War

No Mention of Myriad Reports Pointing to Worsening Situation

In a carefully choreographed rubber-stamping, President Obama appeared today to promise the continuation of the Afghan War in its current form, insisting that the war is “on track” and that major progress is being made against al-Qaeda, despite officials confirming repeatedly that virtually no al-Qaeda have been in the country for years.

The vague claims of “progress” came with a five-page summary which made even more vague claims of progress, and both carefully ignored the grim Pentagon report to Congress just three weeks ago, as well as the equally grim, but classified, CIA report on the war.

Likewise no mention was made of the very public reports from groups like the Red Cross reporting the situation at its worst in decades, nor the open letter from top experts calling for the US to settle with the Taliban and leave as soon as possible.

No, today was the day for the administration to try to convince the American public that the continuation of the war is anything but what it really is, a disastrous commitment to a disastrous policy. Facts, clearly, have no place in such an attempt.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.