Is Obama Playing Prince Hamlet?

Recommendations by U.S. commander General Stanley McChrystal, hand-selected by President Obama to revitalize counter-insurgency operations in the benighted terror-stricken land, have yet to be acted upon. His recommendation for 44,000 extra U.S. troops (in itself a compromise) has languished for months amid excuses and almost weekly new benchmarks to be achieved before a specific decision is made.

The point is that the current NATO and U.S. operations already exceed 100,000 strong, but predictably have yet to pacify a restive country the size of Texas!

While more American troops to aid particularly embattled British units, and sizable contingents from Germany, Canada, France, Poland and the Netherlands among many others, would certainly stabilize a fluid military situation, would it turn it around for the better?

The Afghan imbroglio is beset with lethal challenges; a warlord tradition where tribal clans trump nationalism, a narcotics fueled insurgency, and the bedrock of Taliban Islamic fundamentalists. Add the entrenched al-Qaida terrorist connection and one finds a simmering witches brew that more foreign troops and an elusive domestic political solution are wont to solve.