Afghanistan speech a good night’s work for Obama
By Michael Gerson
President Obama has been the master of mixed signals on Afghanistan. His initial policy review revealed a deeply divided administration, conducting its own internal war of leaks. Obama pursued a major surge in American forces, as well as recent reductions some military commanders viewed as premature. He has affirmed the importance of the Afghan mission when announcing new policy, but has seemed reluctant to mention the conflict otherwise. He has often cloaked responsible national security choices in a language of ambivalence.
