Afghanistan debate brings up a lot of questions

Finding something to watch on TV besides news shouldn't be a problem for someone with Dish Network. You get a million channels, or at least it seems that way.

But tonight -- Wednesday -- as I sit here in my favorite spot on our couch, my glass of iced tea close by, laptop open, I'm drawn to the news channels. Unfortunately there's the usual debating, bickering, and down-right nasty exchanges going on.

And that's just in the first few seconds.

But I can't change the channel, or if I do, it's to another news channel.

The debate over President Obama's approach to the war in Afghanistan has dominated the news since Tuesday night when he addressed the nation.

Before the address I really didn't think President Obama could say anything to change my mind about sending more soldiers (30,000) to Afghanistan and spending more of our hard-earned tax dollars in the war effort.

I was against it.

His words did hit home, though. We started something -- though it was under a different administration -- and can't leave without at least trying to complete our mission.

We also have an obligation as a member of NATO -- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on April 4, 1949. The organization constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.

Remember a guy named Hitler?

The United States asked for help following Sept. 11, 2001, got it, and now must do its part. The United States, it appears, is responsible for terrorist cells moving to Afghanistan and threatening its citizens.

The people responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks -- al Qaeda -- are now based in Afghanistan, we're told, where they are given safe haven by the Taliban.

If President Obama and his administration, including soldiers and generals on the ground, are correct, al Qaeda and the Taliban are planning more attacks in the United States.

That statement boils down to trust. We were fooled by President Bush when he said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Will we be fooled again? Only time will tell.

I'm having a hard time getting past the additional $30 billion it will cost the U.S. in the coming year to expand the war effort in Afghanistan (and I'll bet you it will be more than that). That money could be put to good use right here in the U.S.

Businesses are failing, and there's this thing called health care that President Obama is trying to fix.

Give the president and his supporters credit. Our health-care system needs fixing. Health insurance is almost unaffordable.

Even if a single mom makes a decent wage, and elects to take insurance from her employer, she hardly has anything left to buy food and the essentials. I see it every payday.

Even for a family, with both parents working, health insurance can break the bank.

What about education? A little of that $30 million would be welcomed right here in Greene County if any of our politicians would just ask.

Bloomfield Superintendent Dan Sichting keeps a close eye on what politicians have to say about education, and I guarantee you he has many suggestions on how additional funds could be used.

By the time we pull out of Afghanistan in 2011 -- if we really do -- there will be more money spent, including the ultimate price, the lives of our military personnel.

The United States, as a superpower, has an obligation to the rest of the world. We offer food, money and other aid during times of disaster. We have the resources, and there's nothing wrong with sharing.

We also have the resources to try and help secure countries from terrorist attacks. We can't bury our heads in the sand and think it won't happen.

Sept. 11, 2001 proved otherwise.

This isn't the same world as it was in 1783 when the final British troops left New York for England.

The idea of a new nation being left alone to thrive no longer flies. Actually, it took only 29 years before we were threatened. Remember the war of 1812?

It's late, and I can't take the news channels any longer. I'm more confused than before the evening started, but at least I've tried to understand President Obama's point of view.

I can only trust he's a man of his word.

Chris is the general manager and editor of the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached at 847-4487 or cpruett79@hotmail.com .