Britain Blasts Obama's Dithering

Ministers in the British government are upset over President Obama's "dithering" of the Afghanistan war.

The U.K. Daily Telegraph is reporting:

Bob Ainsworth, the defence secretary, has blamed Barack Obama and the United States for the decline in British public support for the war in Afghanistan.

Senior British Government sources have become increasingly frustrated with Mr. Obama’s “dithering” on Afghanistan, the Daily Telegraph disclosed earlier this month, with several former British defence chiefs echoing the concerns.

But Mr. Ainsworth is the first Government minister to express in public what amounts to personal criticism of the US president’s leadership over the conflict which has so far cost 235 British lives.

Polls show most voters now want an early withdrawal, following the death of 98 British service personnel this year alone.

Ministers say the mission is vital to stop international terrorists using Afghanistan as a base, but Gordon Brown has promised an “exit strategy” that could start next year.

The Defence Secretary’s blunt remarks about the US threaten to strain further a transatlantic relationship already under pressure over the British release of the Lockerbie bomber and Mr Obama’s decision to snub Mr. Brown at the United Nations in September.

Wasn't it President Obama the one who said that he will repair our relations with allies and other nations? Wasn't it President Obama who also said that the relations were caused by the Bush Administration? Didn't he also say that he will approach diplomacy with other nations based on mutual respect?

It appears that the prediction of many of us that the election of Obama will be, in effect, Jimmy Carter's second term is coming true.

To read the Telegraph's full article, go here.