On Tuesday night, the Frontline television show examined the current dynamics behind the war in Afghanistan. The episode was appropriately titled "Obama's War." During the campaign, President Obama firmly opposed the war in Iraq and stated that Afghanistan was where America needed to place its focus. Since taking office, the war in Afghanistan has continued to drag on with no improvements. More troops were dispatched earlier this year, but General McChrystal is still asking for more. At eight years, this is becoming a no win situation.

The Frontline episode examined many interesting aspects of the war: widespread government corruption in Afghanistan, lack of support on behalf of Pakistan, and the inability to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

So back to the most basic question that we faced in Iraq: why don't we just cut and run?

And back to the most basic answer, because we can't.

By leaving the country while it is in such a weak state, we would allow the Taliban to easily regain control of part if not all of the country. When the Taliban were in power, they ruled with an iron fist and allowed no freedom. If we pull out and the Taliban regain control, the last eight years were a waste. There has been too much human sacrifice to just pack up and go home.

When can we say when though? The Soviets gave in after nine years.

As for further troop increase, I would advise the President against it. General McChrystal wants about 45,000 more troops to add onto the already 60,000 plus already there. That would be over 100,000 American troops to fight the Taliban. It could be seen as one last ditch effort before year nine. Such an increase would only draw more anti-American sentiment though. It seems that Bush's quagmire in Iraq has become Obama's quagmire in Afghanistan.

With Barack Obama's inauguration only days away, we are going to see what kind of change he plans to implement almost immediately. Throughout the campaign Obama continually called on closing Guantanamo Bay Prison facility that is used to hold terror suspects. The place is also the site where crimes against humanity might have been committed, further urging its closure. Earlier this week it came out that Obama plans to close the prison facility on his first full day in office.

So if Guantanamo is closed, where do we send the prisoners?

There are a couple possibilities. Attorney General nominee Eric Holder says that some of the prisoners should be tried in U.S. courts. Maybe we could send the rest back to those secret CIA prisons abroad. If not, the rest will be sent to prison facilities here in the U.S. It is even being suggested that some be sent to Camp Pendleton.

Wonder how Americans will react. One such American Claudja Van Orden was quoted by MSNBS saying "Yes I would be concerned. I would like them to be in Guantanamo Bay and not here. Leave them there." [Gitmo Detainees Coming to Pendleton?] Looks like Claudja does not want much of Obama's changes.

Here in Ventura County, we have a similar situation. Ours though deals with a hospital for prisoners on the outskirts of Camarillo. Activists are complaining about criminal Americans. Just imagine those same activists if the government were going to hold international terrorist at the facility.

So America, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME CHANGE?