What the scandal reveals

On Thursday, Obama insisted the change in command is not a change in strategy,
but it’s hard for even a casual observer who sees how badly the war is
going not to question whether Petraeus would ever be bound to the July
2011 transition date Obama announced last year as a turning point at which our
troops could begin to come home. In recent testimony before Congress, Petraeus
said the beginning of such a transition would have to be conditions-based, words
Obama has thus far refused to use. But once Petraeus accepted the job, how
could the date mean what it did before? Defense Secretary Robert
Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen held a press
conference Thursday to reiterate that everyone is on board with the
strategy, which has not changed. It sounded like unity of rhetoric, but it is
hard to believe Petraeus, Gates or Mullen want any date for transition or
withdrawal that isn’t based on conditions on the ground.
 
Perhaps it is an exercise in face-saving for Obama, who knows the war in
Afghanistan is foundering, the American public opposes it and there is no
hope of a successful strategy emerging from current conditions and concluding
next July. Though Obama made the best possible choice in replacing McChrystal
with Petraeus, the McChrystal episode weakened him, and it made him appear
alone.
 
As I wrote in my column this week,
Obama is becoming increasingly isolated from his own party, the American
people and even the rest of the world. As he heads to the G-20 meeting in
Toronto this weekend, he is urging more stimulus from countries embarking
instead on cuts. The deficit and debt woes our allies are feeling mirror
those of Obama’s own party members in Congress, where the Senate has all
but given up on attempting to extend unemployment benefits and state aid aimed
at mitigating enormous public-sector layoffs since the packages would increase
the deficit.
 
A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll this week showed Obama is now earning
his lowest-ever job approval since taking office. With the spotlight
back on the unpopular war in Afghanistan, Obama will have to find a way to
connect with the military brass executing the strategy, with Democrats who no
longer want to fund it, allied nations who no longer want to fight it
and an American public that increasingly favors withdrawal.

WILL LIBERAL DEMS FUND THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN? Ask A.B. returns
Tuesday, June 29. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your
questions and comments to askab@digital-staging.thehill.com.
Thank you.