A remark we can’t really label good or bad until we learn what Barack Obama intends to do with troop levels. If we’re going to leave our troops in harms way without the resources they need, we may as well bring them home. If we’re going to give them what they need to fight the war, then this is good news.

“We are not leaving Afghanistan. This discussion is about next steps forward and the president has some momentous decisions to make,” Gates said in a TV program taped at George Washington University that will be aired by CNN on Tuesday…

“The reality is that because of our inability, and the inability, frankly, of our allies, (for putting) enough troops into Afghanistan, the Taliban do have the momentum right now, it seems,” Gates said.

However, he said the United States could not afford to give al Qaeda and the Taliban the propaganda victory of a U.S. retreat in Afghanistan, where mujahideen forced the Soviet Union to withdraw in 1989 after a decade of bloody warfare…

“What’s more important than that in my view is the message that it sends that empowers al Qaeda … The notion that they have come back from this defeat, come back from 2002, to challenge not only the United States but NATO, 42 nations, is a hugely empowering message should they be successful.” he said.

If we’re going to stay, it’d be a good idea of The One made a decision on troop levels before the Second Coming of Chirst, yet all reports indicate that His Highness intends to take his sweet time in finding a politically-suitable outcome that would cover his own ass.

If he doesn’t fight the war in Afghanistan effectively, he’ll have broken a major campaign promise. If he does, he’ll piss of quite a large section of his base. Note to Barry O: When you’re in a lose-lose situation, go with the outcome that keeps America safe and achieves victory.

It’s time to crap or get off the pot, Barack. Make a decision.