Under the Oak

Rowan Scarborough, of HumanEvents.com, is drawing attention to the fact that the White House is delaying making a tough decision about Afghanistan because it could hurt them in the Health Care debate on Capital Hill.

At the heart of the matter is spending. The White House has figured in big savings in defense spending over the next five years, creating more money for the president’s big domestic programs, primarily health care. Those savings come from, No. 1, terminating weapons programs, and, No. 2, bringing troops home from Iraq. . .But if troops freed up in Iraq simply move to Afghanistan, war costs will go up, not down, as will the huge federal deficit. And Obama’s whopping health care bill would likely run into more detractors on Capital Hill.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not entirely sure that I like the idea of us sending more troops to Af-Pak, but I definitely do NOT like that the President is delaying a vital war decision based on Obamacare’s floundering in Congress.

Think what you will about W, but at least the man could make bold decisions without biting his nails over his own political well being.

Tags: Afghanistan, Obama, Obamacare