Article

2009-09-01 Afghanistan

Pentagon worried about Obama's commitment to Afghanistan

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-09-01 14:36|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 it sure doesnt help to have George Will calling for a pullout.

Posted by liberal hawk 2009-09-01 14:56|| 2009-09-01 14:56|| Front Page Top

#2 Quite a few conservatives called for a pull out of Iraq (WFBuckley was one). Bush didn't take the bait.

Posted by lord garth 2009-09-01 15:05|| 2009-09-01 15:05|| Front Page Top

#3 The prospect that U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal may ask for as many as 45,000 additional American troops in Afghanistan is fueling growing tension within President Barack Obama's administration over the U.S. commitment to the war there.

The nuus reports General McChrystal is soon to recommend a "new strategy" for Afghanistan. And all this time I thought his hearts and minds campaign was the new strategy.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-09-01 16:01|| 2009-09-01 16:01|| Front Page Top

#4 the new approach is counter insurgency, of which hearts and minds is only one component. Clear, hold, and build, while building local forces. A strategy needs to be more detailed than that, however.

Posted by liberal hawk 2009-09-01 17:47|| 2009-09-01 17:47|| Front Page Top

#5 The real problem is pakistan. That is the nexus of the disease. What to do about them? And a lot of their money comes from the Saudis. Everybody is either holding hands or kowtowing to the Saudi king. Too many of our leaders have been bought and sold by the saudis.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2009-09-01 19:40|| 2009-09-01 19:40|| Front Page Top

#6 McChrystal's predecessor asked for 30,000 and essentially got fired for it.

Counterinsurgency may be the 'in thing', but it takes time. I highly doubt that there's any kind of national commitment to two-decades-plus of it.

And - the problem with the clear-hold-build is that it requires an increase in support personnel. That creates a whole new set of issues.

Posted by Pappy 2009-09-01 21:12|| 2009-09-01 21:12|| Front Page Top

#7 Keep in mind that the last 6-8 weeks has been focused on the needs of a (relatively) safe election and a possible runoff. Once that is done the strategy will be adjusted to suit. Of course the youngsters that don't remember the consequences of the retreat from Vietnam will be crying for full withdrawal yesterday (if not sooner). The death and destruction that would follow matters naught.

Posted by tipover 2009-09-01 21:22|| 2009-09-01 21:22|| Front Page Top

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