The War on Terror: Out With the Old, In With the New

It's no secret that the people love President Obama. He's younger and more in touch with the everyday American.
That, and he doesn't strike fear in all of our hearts.

Not like Bush did.

"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists," and "We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans, and confront the worst threats before they emerge," or how about, "We have every reason to assume the worst." Scare tactics? No, just daily Bush speak, ways to gather support for the war and turn against all the world's "evildoers."

In the face of the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, it's understandable that we place war on the back burner of America's stove of social dilemmas. However, we mustn't forget that there is still a war going on. President Obama hasn't forgotten, and this once "War on Terror" has now become a mission to help those in war-torn areas restore their power and become independent once again.

Not to discredit Obama's strength in dealing with the tough war we now face. He only used the term "war on terror" once, and that was during his campaign for the presidency, but he remains undeterred in his vision for peace in the middle east.

He vowed to make Afghanistan the central front in the fight against terrorism. The uncompromising Taliban core must be met with force, he stated, and "they must be defeated."

So far in his presidency, however, Obama has maintained a positive outlook, more so than President Bush ever did. His tone remains hopeful, and aside from defeating all terrorists, Obama hopes to start the reconciliation process and isolate terror oppression until it is no more.

He believes the first step is making sure that Americans understand that Pakistan needs our help against al Qaeda. "Al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within," he stated. To beat them, we must focus on capturing them, but not neglect the fact that the rest of the Pakistani people are in need of acknowledgment.

Obama pointed out, "Our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don't invest in their future," something the Bush administration did little in ensuring. In the newest piece of legislation, President Obama provided for foreign aid programs and funding for a strong inspector general that will put an end to wasteful reconstruction. The legislation will also provide "$1.5 billion in indirect support to the Pakistani people every year for the next five years-resources that will build schools, roads, and hospitals and strengthen Pakistan's democracy."

Sure, this investment will yield great results for the Pakistani people in the future, but $1.5 billion? Sounds like a bit much, especially during our economic downturn. Then again...

Before leaving office, President Bush passed a war spending bill. His $162 billion war spending bill didn't go to building schools or hospitals, but guaranteed ongoing fighting in Pakistan and Iraq, and funded troop support for years after his leaving office.

Thanks Bush.

Though a hefty sum, Obama's legislation actually saves us money. It also calls for training an "Afghan army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000, so that the U.S. can turn over security responsibility to the Afghans," and save us money on troop training at home.

To get Pakistan through economic crisis, Obama stated that the U.S. must work with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, among others, to get the ball rolling.

But fixing these nations' problems won't be that easy. The president has also sought a pact with the Afghan government to crackdown on corrupt behavior and oppression in order to truly help the Afghan people.

So yes, the people love Obama. He has begun dealing not only with the economic crisis, the collapse of the auto industry, the ban on scientific and medical advancement, but has also taken major strides in dealing with the war that has been virtually undealt with for the past 7 1/2 years.

With so many issues and problems to deal with, I'm glad President Obama has been using all of his front burners.



Obama: Anti-terror plans focus on Pakistan, Afghanistan
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/27/us.afghanistan.troops/index.html

Press Conference Video
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/27/us.afghanistan.troops/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

Bush signs $162B war spending bill for Iraq, Afghanistan
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/06/30/us-warfunding.html