Friend, "fiddle" is the conservative assessment/definition of Obama's current deliberations over matters in Afghanistan. I've not used that term myself, except in quotes, indicating that that is not a term
I would personally use; rather that it is a term that
others have used to describe Obama's timeline on answering a request for more troops (while carefully ignoring the fact that the Bush administration "fiddled" even longer).
Others would characterize Obama's deliberations as thoughtful and considered, particularly in light of the fact that the Afghan government is essentially non-existent at the moment (not something Bush had to consider, yet he still delayed sending more troops), AND that Obama has yet to hear Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' assessment of the situation. (Reportedly, this will happen some time
today.)
Me, personally? Given that conservatives are complaining that Obama is taking too long on this decision (i.e. "fiddling") I think Bush's sitting on his hands for three months
hoping someone else would respond to his own generals' call for troops should also be characterized as "fiddling."
But again, this isn't a term
I've used; I'm merely using the right's own words to highlight the similar type of "fiddling" by the Bush administration.
Beyond this, I believe Bush's obvious reluctance to fill troop requests in Afghanistan at a time when they could have made ALL the difference, had everything to do with his focus on fighting his unnecessary and foolish war in Iraq. In light of Bush's failure to respond properly in Afghanistan (resulting in a worsening situation in that country), it was up to the Obama administration to fill McKiernan's requests.
And the Obama administration did just that.
Now, with a fraudulent election in Afghanistan and essentially ineffective Afghan government, we are faced with a dramatic situational change which directly affects our ability to accomplish anything on the ground. We cannot count on the Afghan government/military to effectively assist us, the way Bush could. Because of this, strategies far more complex than throwing more troops at the problem must be considered and refined. Obama will receive Secretary of Defense Gates' recommendation concerning additional troops in Afghanistan
today. I'm more than willing to give him a few weeks to consider Secretary Gates' input.
Interestingly enough, Bush didn't make a move in Afghanistan or Iraq without the input of his Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld (this could be expanded; Bush
repeatedly followed Rumsfeld's awful recommendations with apparently little consideration), and evidently, most of those on the right felt this was appropriate, as I do not recall their pointing fingers at the Bush administration for its long delay in answering troop requests.
For those same people to insist today that Obama make an important decision in Afghanistan without the input of
his Secretary of Defense also seems hypocritical.