The eagerly awaited announcement came today from the President. In what has become an Obama standard, everything is to be implemented on a tight time table. Six (6) months to complete mobilization of a 30,000 person increase in U.S. forces, and a year later, initiated demobilization of U.S. forces. Wisely, no final disengagement date was mentioned.

I assume that we do not have 30,000 qualified troopers on board right now that are not already productively engaged. So, many recruits will be needed. Let's hope that the volunteers are forthcoming. It takes about 6 months to basically train a trooper for non-combat service. Which means new recruits would have to go into non-combat jobs, to free up suitable personnel for assignment to Afghanistan. Then there is the question of equipment and military infrastructure needed by them. It is not a simple matter, and 6 months seems extremely tight. The time table is probably destined to slip. Else, we will be committing poorly trained, ill-equipped troops to a military engagement.

Demobilization of a military force engaged in combat is not a simple matter, obviously. The lucky ones are the first to be repatriated; the poor buggers are the ones last out the door.

So this seems to me to be a withdrawal plan disguised as a "troop buildup". If it is, it's a very clever political slight of hand. Let's hope it is that, and not an error in judgment.

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