AFGHAN PRESIDENT ENDORSES TRUMP STRATEGY – AT 11:34 A.M. ET:   Trump is a serious president.  Even some journalists are starting to get that.  And he is changing our foreign and defense policies for the better.  The president of Afghanistan, where we have troops in combat, likes what he sees.  From the Washington Times: 

President Trump received glowing praise Thursday from Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani for the new war strategy, which was credited for turning around the 16-year war against Taliban militants and other radical Islamic terrorists.

“It is a difference of day and night,” Mr. Ghani said at a meeting with Mr. Trump. “The cloud of uncertainty has been lifted, but equally important is your commitment to a political solution at the end of this process.”

Mr. Trump announced the new strategy a month ago. It included setting long-term goals for the war effort, sending more U.S. troops to train and assist the Afghan military and revisions rules of engagement.

Before Mr. Trump took office, President Obama had begun a drawdown of U.S. troops and then halted the pullout as conditions deteriorated.

“You made this decision on the basis of courage and determination. We salute you,” Mr. Ghani said of the renewed commitment to the war.

COMMENT:  I get the feeling that many foreign leaders, outside the decadent orbit of Western Europe, are far more impressed with Trump than they ever were with Obama.  They may not be able to say it publicly just yet, but they will.

September 21, 2017