Obama Helps All Parties Involved Decide on Their Afghan Strategy

The chance of Obama's vote of "present" being a successful Afghan strategy has to be close to zero.

1. Not only did Obama lay out a strategy for the United States but at the same time he laid out a strategy for the Afghan War Lords and tribal leaders, the Afghan drug cartels, the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The strategy for all of the latter is to hide and duck for 18 months, harass U.S. military enough to cause more deaths and avoid major military confrontations, and don't dare align yourself or provide aid to the U.S. military because you will be executed after the U.S.leaves.
2. For the Afghan population in general, Obama has provided a strategy as well; that is, don't be identified as being for democracy or as a friend of the U.S. forces because you will pay for it latter.
3. For our allies who might contribute troops, Obama has provided the guideline that don't get into combat assignments and risk your lives for an announced strategy of retreat and defeat.
4. For the U.S. troops in, or being sent to, Afghanistan, Obama has provided the incentive to avoid conflict, don't risk getting killed or wounded because your Commander In Chief U.S. has already accepted retreat and defeat as an acceptable outcome, after making a show for 18 months.

How nice it is of Obama to help all these diverse groups decide what needs to be done.