Change of Heart, Change of Mind

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FROM DUBAI 

There has been an amazing transformation of President Obama over the past five months and it has little to do with what the media has concentrated upon. The transformation of an anti-war, disengagement now candidate has given way to the war President. The recently launched US Marine Corps offensive in Helmand province is more than a shift of US policy, it is a shift with the US President and his beliefs as they were voiced especially in the early part of his campaign in 2007. Back in what seems like another age , then Sen. Obama made a speech that was often times replayed in the campaign that he was against the unnecessary war in Iraq. Though Afghanistan was rarely mentioned because the political “third rail” at that time was Iraq and that was the touchstone issue in the race for the Democratic nominee it still made the point. But today we see a very different view as the White House is now not only launching massive strikes into the heart of the insurgency but also putting out the parameters of victory as well by declaring that if Taliban training facilities are denied and the Taliban themselves are denied access to the region victory will have been achieved. Bold to say the least. One would think from mistakes by previous administrations would make this one cautious in issuing such key parameters for a victory and subsequently stating what would be defeat. Today we’ve witnessed the President travel full circle in the political cycle from cautious to bold and from war critic to our war President.