In many things that we do, a half-hearted or partial effort just doesn't get it done. We don't almost make a sale and get paid for it, we don't almost stop at the traffic light and not expect that someone might hit us, we don't almost keep our cars under the speed limit and not expect a ticket, we don't almost show up on time for an appointment by not allowing sufficient time to get there, and we don't win a war by not being all-in.
In Texas Hold-Em, there is "all-in" where you put everything you have into the game in an attempt to win. You either win the hand or you lose the game, but you committed everything on the belief that your hand was good enough to win or that you could bluff your opponent into thinking so.
Today a lot of the country is going to the airport and flying someplace to be with family. Do you think that the pilots are sitting up there in the cockpit on takeoff saying to themselves "I wonder what is the least amount of throttle we can use and still manage to takeoff"? Or do you think they are using full, maximum power?
Now, we are embroiled in the war in Afghanistan (little "w" because it is not a decalred war). We are in danger of losing and coming home. McChyrstal, under a direct order from the Commander-in-Chief and his superior officer, prepared an assessment of what it would take to pursue the war to a succcessful outcome. McChrystal reported - back in August - that he needed 40,000 troops within a year to do it.
So, what does the President do? We don't know for sure other than the foot-dragging-procrasnitating-putting-our troops-at-unnnecessary-risk strategy, but it has been leaked and speculated that the President will finally announce next Tuesday - 90 days after he originally received McChystal's report - that he intends to hold back and not go "all-in." He wants to see what 32-35,000 troops (not 40,000) phased in over two years (rather than one) will do. By the way, he says he is committed to the effort and will not accept defeat. Funny way of showing it.
Mr. President, it's time to go all-in. The enemy just might be bluffing.
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