Delaying decision helps on health care

There is a lot of speculation about why President Obama does not send the requested reinforcements to his appointed commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

The general, in his new strategy submitted Aug. 30, wrote of a "criticality of time," stating "failure to gain the initiative" now "risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible."

In response, "Our Leader" or his representatives have cited the "need to arrive at a new strategy" or the "need to continue to develop our mission in Afghanistan" or "the necessity of holding a new election to develop a truly Afghan partner."

For people familiar with the Sol Alinsky method, these responses are merely the fog covering the real reason for his stalling, which is that if he sends the requested number of new troops (40,000 to 60,000) he risks losing the support in the Congress of the anti-war members of the Democrat Party for his domestic agenda (currently a national health care plan).

On the other hand, if he can hold back the reinforcements until a possibly successful vote is taken on the health plan or at least use the time to do more to assure its passage, he can then send the additional troops and further his long term agenda as well.

Dr. LOUIS FANNING

Champaign