Obama Slows Withdraw of Troops in Afghanistan

      Obama stated that he plans to continue the withdraw of troops from Afghanistan, but he ensure that the troops will be fully withdrawn from the nation before the end of his presidency. He will keep the troop levels at 9,800 soldiers still in Afghanistan. This decision was based on Obama's meeting with the president of Afghan, Ashraf Gahni. Obama's administration advised our president to continue supporting Gahni's cause. The act of continuing support there would increase the deteriorating relationship between the two nations. He affirmed Gahni's ability to act as a commander in chief for his nation. He said that he was using the role in a new way, one of which no one was has ever taken before. He assures he will not abandon his original plan to pull the troops out of Afghanistan. He says that Afghanistan is still a dangerous place and that we should not be careless. He also states that the Afghan security forces are better equipped to than the threats in their area. Keeping the troops there gives increased security and food for the Afghan forces.

      President Obama was well within his legal rights to do this. He is the acting Commander in Chief and had logical justification to do so. The president is attempting to amend partially wounded ties with another country while maintaining his original plan to remove the troops from Afghanistan. I personally believe the decision is a sound one. Obama clearly used his administration to determine this, making it a more informed decision.

Link: Obama Agrees to slow U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Unit Three and the Crowded Republican Party

Republican Candidate Possibilities

      The article explains that the number of Republican candidates prior to this year has been small. In these previous years, a clear nominee was always found. Whereas, now, there are no obvious winners for the Republican nomination in the 2016 election. If the approximated number of Republicans running for the nomination is accurate, then the Republicans will have the most packed election pool since 1976. Because of how vast number of election possibilities, the number of variables are increased making it harder to predict, accurately, the party's nomination. This causes the polls to be scattered and indecisive, leading the party in no clear direction. The number of candidates that may run is only one less than the record number for any election ever.
      Though the competition is still alive and real, the one who is able to assert dominance over the other candidates first may very well earn the nomination. The article states that George W. Bush was facing off against five other candidates, but once he showed "strength through endorsements" he was able to have the position secured. Something similar may be happening in the current election. Scott Walker's increasingly good polls may earn him more endorsements and allow him to persuade the polls more, which may very well deter possible candidates from running.

Link: The 2016 GOP Field is Shaping Up As Historically Crowded — And Unpredictable