Earlier today, President Obama spoke to a group of military servicemen and women in Jacksonville, Florida. With the impending decision on troop strength in Afghanistan at the forefront of everyone’s mind, the Bama warned that he was still deciding when to decide. And then he transparently disguised his political stall as noble deliberation: “I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm’s way,” he said.

No rush? No kidding.

Obama has been sitting on Afghanistan for nearly 10 months now, announcing “new strategies” in January, March, and June, appointing a new commander in early summer, and then blowing off that commander until he was outed on “60 Minutes.” He continues to sit on Afghanistan under the pretense of awaiting the outcome of the November 7th Afghan presidential run-off election. But the real reason lies in elections closer to home; namely, the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Announcing a major troop escalation before next week would certainly have steam coming out of Democratic voters’ ears—and they just might stay home in protest.

So despite Obama’s protestations that he’s “not rushing” out of a sense of “solemnity,” reports are that he’s already made up his mind on the troop request and is sitting on it until after voters go to the polls next Tuesday.

What? you say. This White House has politicized a war decision? This Chicago-land White House has put politics above national security?

There’s gambling in Casablanca?

Sometimes, late at night, Obama hears a distant sound. No, it’s not his conscience. It’s the siren call of the golf course. He must obey it.

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