"Obama's war:" to lift the fog - or tap the passions?

I've looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It's life's illusions i recall.
I really don't know life at all.

******

"Both Sides Now."

Yes, 1970, oh were there clouds back then...

Does anyone remember Vietnam? How deep a shadow it cast over our world.

Today a similar but far less painful kind of cloud, a "fog of war," hangs over the entire country.

President Obama has chosen to increase U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan. To finish out this war.

Will that help lift the fog?

Or simply blanket Aghanistan in a new generation of rhetoric?

Will the President's cool and distant style help mobilize Americans for more war, more sacrifice of lives and money?

What kind of rhetoric will he summon up?

What combination of "high minded internationalism" and basic "take down our enemies" nationalism?

Will he need to tap America's more fundamentalist, vengeful streak in order to gather widespread popular support?

Will he need to learn a bit from from the fundamentalist, tough justice, apocalyptic strains of Clint Eastwood?

If he does not, will Americans still support him?

******

Each generation must face the reality of war's "fog."

To move forward into the shadows of the entrappment in war's Crater -- or to skirt the edges, to climb free and upward into the light.

We may be reaching a "tipping point" where overextended military occupations drain the country's resources and diminish the nation's power, safety, and standard of living.

With true love there must be no illusions...

Now the President has made his Sophie's Choice:

The hard decisions on Afghanistan which will shape who lives, who dies....

Time to pay the price.

Time to lift the "fog of war."
And rewrite the lyrics:

******

"I've looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I have lost
I know there is a price to pay"

******

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, i've looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way...

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions i recall.
I really don't know clouds at all...

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real; i've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. you leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away...

I've looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It's life's illusions i recall.
I really don't know life at all.

******

******