IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY ACTUAL EFFECT ON THE GROUND...:

Barack Obama's 'dithering' hurts Afghan mission, British sources say: US President Barack Obama’s indecision over his strategy for Afghanistan threatens to undermine the Western mission, British sources have said. (James Kirkup, 05 Nov 2009, Daily Telegraph)

One British source said that the absence of a clear strategy from the US, the largest troop contributor in Afghanistan, is hampering the British Government’s attempts to maintain public support for an increasingly unpopular conflict.

“The truth is that until we have some clarity from Obama, it’s going to be hard for us to explain to people what we’re doing there,” the source said.

Britain is urging Hamid Karzai to send more Afghan forces to Helmand province to support British troops there.

Mr Karzai was returned for second term this week after an election widely agreed to have been flawed and corrupt.

“We need the Americans to have a clear message for Karzai about what he has to do, but that’s just not there at the moment,” said the British source.

The private frustrations of British ministers and commanders were echoed by General Lord Guthrie, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, who said the American deliberations had brought the Afghan mission to a pivotal moment.

“It’s a tipping point because of President Obama’s delayed decision on whether to send more troops,” Lord Guthrie said.

...but it does matter in terms of our allies ability to trust us.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 5, 2009 9:01 PM