That worked so well, too...
Posted on 09/22/2009 4:57:36 AM PDT by Saije
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's grim assessment of the Afghanistan war has opened a divide between the military, which is pushing for an early decision to send more troops, and civilian policymakers who are increasingly doubtful of an escalating nation-building effort.
Senior military officials emphasized Monday that McChrystal's conclusion that the U.S. effort in Afghanistan "will likely result in failure" without an urgent infusion of troops has been endorsed by the uniformed leadership. That includes Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen and Gen. David H. Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command and architect of the troop "surge" strategy widely seen as helping U.S. forces turn the corner in Iraq.
But before any decision is made, some of President Obama's civilian advisers have proposed looking at other, less costly options to address his primary goal of preventing al-Qaeda from reestablishing itself in Afghanistan. Those options include a redirection of U.S. efforts -- away from protecting the Afghan population and building the Afghan state and toward persuading the Taliban to stop fighting -- as well as an escalation of targeted attacks against al-Qaeda itself in Pakistan and elsewhere.
The commander's report, administration officials said, is only one of many "inputs" the president is considering. Others include assessments from the State Department, the intelligence community and his White House advisers.
Obama's decision is complicated by a deepening domestic political divide and no guarantee of success whichever option he chooses. One observer, characterizing the president's dilemma at its most extreme, said: "He can send more troops and it will be a disaster and he will destroy the Democratic Party. Or he can send no more troops and it will be a disaster and the Republicans will say he lost the war."
McChrystal assessment: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092100110.html?hpid=topnews
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I wonder when the exodus from the upper ranks of our military will begin.
I’m not looking forward to it. We need those guys.
But it appears inevitable. Hope one or more of ‘em writes a good book about just how effed up this CinC is.
Dios Mios, I would applaud it.
Some serious signals are being sent, aren't they?
I hope the General has his “retirement” papers in order. I wonder how long it will take for the administration thugs to force him out...not long, I’ll bet.
Obama is FROZEN because he only wants to hurt
America with first ObamaCARE Death Panels, and then
the evisceration of the military.
The ObamaCARE Death Panels are up now, so he does not
want to pi$$ off anyone just yet. Delay. Delay even
as the American troops are threatened by his delay.
IF the General doesn’t get what he needs,he should resign.
In the past under conditions where O has had to take a stand he has voted “PRESENT.”
It seems he is keeping up with tradition...
While America was ready for an African-American president, clearly this African-American was not ready to be president.
From what I've been told by returning vets from there, most Afghanis want the easiest out concerning all circumstances and will side with the highest payer.
IOW, they do not give a flying leap either way.
Like I said, I would applaud it if it happened, as long as we had another presidential election in Nov. 2010.
I volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.Would I volunteer under Obama? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
For political gain, Obama chose to make an escalation in troops in the Afghan conflict a centerpiece of his election campaign. But he never really wanted to have anything to do with Afghanistan. He just wanted to use it as a club to beat up on Bush.
Now, in the words of one of Obama’s mentors, “ the chickens have come home to roost”.
We could annihilate the Taliban in Afghanistan, if the dogs of war were unleashed. But Obama is not going to permit that, I fear. And if not, either we just get the heck out and secure the border so the Taliban is constrained, or we face another Vietnam. Hate to see it.
Has there been more incompetence in the White House since Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter? Not a chance. American soldiers die while Emperor Obama votes Present. Actually he is looking for some concession to give the Taliban so they will like us better and he will get even more rave reviews in the dying, anti military, anti American media.
WOW, talk about talking the eye off the ball. This isn’t about appeasing the Democrats or the Republicans. IT’S ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD!!
I hope so, never would I have thought I would say that.
That worked so well, too...
fleeing Saigon
We are in a very bad situation. Either we loose Afghanistan, or spend a lot more blood and money there and probably loose anyway.
Get all women and children and innocents out and easy go oven bake nuke em.
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