Posted on 09/03/2009 8:28:29 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
ARLINGTON, Va. — President Barack Obama is reviewing the long-awaited Afghanistan assessment, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, and the two will meet early next week to discuss strategy.
The assessment from the top U.S. and NATO commander in the country, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, did not call for sending more troops to Afghanistan, but that could come soon.
“I would expect that any request for additional resources would follow after this process and be similarly discussed by the president’s national security team,” he said.
The U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan is expected to reach 68,000 this year, and McChrystal could ask for up to 45,000 extra troops, according to media reports.
Gates said he was aware of a series of public opinion polls that have shown Americans’ increasingly negative views toward the Afghan effort and toward devoting more U.S. forces.
“The nation has been at war for eight years,” Gates said.
“The fact that Americans would be tired of having of their sons and daughters at risk and in battle is not surprising. I think what is important is for us to be able to show over the months to come that the president’s strategy is succeeding, and that is what Gen. McChrystal is putting in front of us.”
Joint Chiefs Chair Adm. Mike Mullen said McChrystal has offered in “frank and candid terms how he believes his forces can best accomplish the mission the president has assigned to him.”
Details of the assessment have not been released.
“There has been enormous focus on troop numbers and time lines lately — lots of conjecture, lots of speculation.” Mullen said. “I understand the interest in those things, and it’s legitimate, but those numbers represent real units, real people and real families.”
The Joint Chiefs have already discussed the assessment twice and they plan to meet at least once more on the matter, he said.
“My intention is to wrap up our review by Friday,” he said. “Our job, and it’s one we take very seriously, is to provide the secretary and the president our best military advice.”
Obama's Whitehouse page. This used to describe the National Security Strategy of the President.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/
Bush's Nation Security Strategy.
The National Security Strategy of the United States of America
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2320.htm
Still, Obama has not published a National Security Strategy.
Obama’s Whitehouse page. This used to describe the National Security Strategy of the President.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/
Bush’s Nation Security Strategy.
The National Security Strategy of the United States of America
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2320.htm
whats the word on Gates?...why was he kept on and is he going to be a useful stooge if what Glenn talks about comes true...(chavez).....
I wish I knew.
....and we know 0bama is reading the report-as his lips are moving
THAT would be a fun meeting to watch! Maybe Obama can send in ACORN troops. Solve two problems right there!
O’Spinless can not publish a National Security Strategy let alone adopt any of GWB. O’Putz is a National DISGRACE!
We need to take care of our selves.
The ghosts of LBJ and McNamera roam again. I fear for our troops.
_________________________________
Thank you!
The Goldwater/Nichols Act requires the POTUS to publish his strategy.
Obama has not, or will not.
Goldwater Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986
http://www.ndu.edu/library/goldnich/goldnich.html
I fear for our troops too. I pray my heart out for them nightly and also for the health of Justices Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito and Kennedy.
I didn’t know that. Thank you!
Obama’s admin have the biggest foul mouths on the planet.
I don’t trust 0bama nor any of them.
Thanks for looking.
The NSS is a requirement for study for US Military leaders.
It’s studies at the War Colleges, and Non-Commissioned Officers Academies.
It is an outline for what we should work for.
Studies=studied.
Gates is to keep the army looking at Afghanistan un-winnable war while the Kenyan creates the national civilian force as well armed and funded as the army, that is, the SS.
The Army is the second biggest deterrent able to stop the Resident from completing his dictator coup.
We will not see any more presidential elections if the Whtie house has its way. There will be a state of emergency requiring the elections to be indefinitely postponed while the constitution is revised.
Best thing for Gates to do is kick Taliban butt, kill them all, throw Karzai out and install a reliable dictator, then get out, all within 6 months before the wheels come off here in the USA and this sucker goes down.
No need to thank me. All the thanks is owed to you. After reading the information at your link, I wanted to learn about Nichols, -— a US Rep. from Alabama (D) -— and then I wanted to know more about the ACT, so I’ve just learned about its history and about the clarification Rumsfeld made in 2002.
So, thank you again, and now I will be looking forward with great interest to reading Obama’s report. I hope when it’s posted here, I don’t miss the posting.
He’s a pacifist and wouldn’t know a war if one walked in the front door.
How can he have a “war policy” if he thinks war is unnecessary?
He just wants to sit and talk to al Qaeda and they’ll be nice to us.
NUKE ‘em and let God sort it out.
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