Here is my full disclosure: I do not feel that I have read enough to know the full details of the new war strategy on Afghanistan. I will be attempting to read from original news sources on the matter, because many news organizations tend to fail at presenting such sensitive information without distortions. I would recommend others to read the President’s speeches and follow other news conferences by the government branches on the matter for a more accurate picture on the matter.

That being said, I would like to discuss the another core of the matter, which is the immediate reactions to the President’s plan for a troops surge. There are various reasons for his decision in doing so, but I would like to focus on some of the initial reactions from various perspectives.

From the “left”, many are opposing the new war strategy, because they find no real purpose in committing to additional troops. There are only a few al-Qaeda fighters in the country, and the current government of Afghanistan is full of corruption. The continuation of U.S. presence is also seen as a continuation of the Bush-era policies, which the voters of the 2008 Presidential election seemed to have rejected.

From the “right”, there are mixed reactions. There is definite support for increased military presence in Afghanistan, because victory in the region is vital to national security. However, some have criticized the President for taking too much time for making a clear decision on the matter, which could have hurt the overall strategy in fighting foreign terrorists.

The two views I have described are the main, polar perspective on the issue. There are other views that I have not mentioned, but it seems that these two views are getting the most attention in the media.

What is critical though is not to distill down a given issue and take a side based on incomplete information. Because it is a critical issue, I invite many to hold off on his judgment and take in the facts without distortions. This will involve watching the President’s full speech without commentary from the news networks and perhaps watching some press briefings by government agencies. After taking in all the facts, it is your decision to exercise your deliberation and form an opinion.

I am expecting a lot of noise on this issue in the coming days.