Yesterday, 8 American soldiers died in two separate incidents in Afghanistan, making October one of the deadliest months in that war. Meanwhile, former Vice President Dick Cheney has been saying that President Obama is “dithering” in making a decision about what to do next. What kind of decision-making is needed here, and what do we expect of our leaders, and ourselves?


This morning the pressure to take decisive action in Afghanistan grew as Matthew Hoh, a former Marine who fought in Iraq, and has served in the Foreign Service in Afghanistan, up and quit. He says the war there is a mistake – largely an internal civil war in which the U.S. can only play a marginal role. No matter which way the president turns, there’s no clear path.

I’m not a great fan of endless planning – thinking over every option, turning over every stone. At some point, such discussions can become counterproductive. I often see people bogged down, unable to move ahead, paralyzed by fear and doubt, plagued by too much information, even a lack of clarity in purpose.

So, here we find ourselves engaged in Afghanistan and wondering what to do next, and I ask:

• In such situations, is being decisive about the ability to make a quick and firm decision?
• Is being strong equal to taking a position and then holding fast to it; what about when contradictory evidence starts to emerge?
• When does being deliberate blur into being unable or unwilling to make a clear decision?

Of course, such questions have been around forever, and I’ve seen them rear their head in various studies I’ve done over the years on politics and public life and as part of on-the-ground initiatives in communities. But what I am finding so provocative about the president’s approach is that we are witnessing a clear clash in leadership styles on a profound question for our nation, the people of Afghanistan, and the American soldiers who may be put in harm’s way. What to do next?

Indeed, what do we want from our leaders when it comes to an issue like Afghanistan? Do we take comfort in their determined decisiveness, or discomfort in their deliberation? Do we wonder if they know what they’re doing if they keep consulting with others; or do we fear their certainty and independence if they seem to be heading down their own path? I recognize that there are no hard and fast rules here; nor is there necessarily any kind of knee-jerk response. And yet, we are each asked to judge this situation because we are watching it unfold before our very eyes, and because we are part of this nation.

Moreover, it only seems to reason that such discussions about leadership affect all of us, in our own daily activities. What risks are we willing to take to deliberate? When does enough time, information and input, become too much? And how willing are we to stand up to opposing or counter forces to articulate what we believe in how we approach decisions – and why?

I’m not arguing one way or the other about how policy in Afghanistan; I’ll leave that for another time. Instead, my question today is about how we decide to engage in our own difficult situations, and why.

So, I’m glad that former Vice President Cheney has come out in opposition to President Obama. This is exactly the kind of examination and debate we all need. Take your place.