A crise económica e financeira distraiu as atenções do mundo das outras frentes de batalha que a administração Obama herdou. No Iraque e no Afeganistão persistem cada vez mais os desencontros da opinião pública norte-americana quanto à estratégia a seguir. Desencontros esses que decorrem, como geralmente sucede, da diferença de posições entre os líderes políticos e militares.
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As decisões que Obama tomar quanto à continuação ou à retirada das tropas norte-americanas terão implicações sobre o rumo do mundo que excederão de forma incalculável as sequelas da crise económica por mais intensas que elas sejam.
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No Iraque e no Afeganistão jogam-se as pedras decisivas de um xadrez infernal, onde um dos contendores manobra atrás da cortina para, a partir daí, manter uma situação de permanente acção terrorista. Obama só tem duas alternativas: Ou continua a guerra, reforçando os meios que os chefes militares reclamam, ou retira e aceita a mudança de jogo. No primeiro caso, a vitória implicaria um prolongamento da guerra que só seria suportável pela opinião pública norte-americana se no combate se envolvessem todos quantos serão perdedores se os EUA se retirarem; no segundo caso, à retirada norte-americana seguir-se-á o avanço imparável dos terroristas talibans e da al-Qaeda, e, uma a seguir a outra, cairão as pedras do dominó petrolífero.
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A guerra continuará, então, em fronteiras mais recuadas ou reacender-se-á nas posições anteriores por imposição da opinião pública norte-americana, que sem petróleo não vive. E muitos outros também não.
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"We have lost a lot of great guys; we have lost so much potential," Whitehurst said. "But this country now has that potential. And there are people in this country that are alive today because of the sacrifices made by those soldiers. I do think it was worth it. I can look back, and I think all of us can hold our heads very high."
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Obama's prolonged deliberation would be understandable if he were choosing between escalating or ending the war, as Bush was. Yet he narrowed his options many weeks ago -- and still has been unable to come to closure. Last Thursday the president was presented with various reinforcement options; rather than decide, he reportedly asked for another study about when and how fighting could be turned over to the Afghan army.
Another week or two of thinking won't hurt. But the impression that gets created is of a president who knows what course he must take -- one of expanding American involvement in a difficult and increasingly unpopular war -- but can't bring himself to embrace it. It's an image that risks undermining any commitment Obama eventually makes. In the end, it's not enough for a president to be seen as having thought through a decision to send more troops to war. Enemies, allies and the country also need to be convinced that he believes in it.
Another week or two of thinking won't hurt. But the impression that gets created is of a president who knows what course he must take -- one of expanding American involvement in a difficult and increasingly unpopular war -- but can't bring himself to embrace it. It's an image that risks undermining any commitment Obama eventually makes. In the end, it's not enough for a president to be seen as having thought through a decision to send more troops to war. Enemies, allies and the country also need to be convinced that he believes in it.
