Obama will have to call it...

Conventional wisdom has it that we need not re-live the mistakes of the past if we allow history to inform us. A practical way of doing this is to examine the historical record as it is outlined in books. Now we find that the historical record itself is flawed because it was written by men with conflicting views and motives. We also know that, whereas there might be parallels, each situation differs in significant ways.

The lesson here is that history alone does not absolve the decision maker from doing his duty. Neither can history provide a shield for the consequences of any decision he might have to make.

Clearly, our president is not up to the task of being commander-in-chief. He appears not to trust himself or anyone around him. Still, with respect to Afghanistan, whether to send in more troops or throw in the towel is a decision only he can make. As such, only he can bear the blame should something go wrong.

I believe, that Obama never thought he'd be in this predicament. I believe he always envisioned that doing nothing was a credible out - a third way. Now he knows that this is not merely an academic exercise in which 'deus ex machina' always works on paper and is always dismissively marked 'genius' - given the affirmative action factor - by exhausted and cynical ivy league rug rats.

Obama will have to call it, one way or the other. It's what he signed up for. Suddenly, he no longer seems as cocky as he was during the campaign. I wonder if he might not be considering picking up the phone and asking Bush. Nah, that would be too easy. Or would it?