President Obama's Operating Space on Afghanistan Gets Narrower

ABC ^ | 10/26/2009 | Kristina Wong

[markomalley]

A month into reviewing U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, President Obama appears to be operating in an increasingly narrowing space between reality on the ground in Afghanistan, and political camps in Washington, with pressure closing in from all sides.

Leading one camp is Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is urging the president to make a decision on strategy in Afghanistan as soon as possible, and follow the recommendations laid out by Gen. Stanley McChrystal in his Aug. 30 assessment on how to succeed in Afghanistan,

(snip)

On the other side is Vice President Joe Biden, who reportedly favors a counterterrorism strategy that would scale back the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and specifically target members of al-Qaida with predator drone attacks.

(snip)

Another parameter shaping President Obama’s decision-making space is the upcoming Nov. 7 run-off presidential election in Afghanistan

(snip)

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, blasted the idea the president should wait until after the elections to make a decision on strategy.

(snip)

Asked whether Hatch agreed with former Vice President Dick Cheney, who recently accused the president of “dithering” on Afghanistan strategy and emboldening U.S. adversaries, he (Hatch) said he would never want to call his president “dithering.”

“I know it’s a tough position that he’s in, but why not follow he advice of all of his generals and especially General McChrystal?” Hatch said. “They need these troops, there’s no question about it. And we’re exposing our young men and women over there – a number of them have been killed, I’m not blaming the president for that, but we’re exposing them without the proper help that they’ve just got to have.”

[markomalley]

and another factor is the Nov 3 elections in this country.

and the other factor is that one actually needs some executive experience before taking the job...and our current POTUS has not managed so much as a lemonade stand...

[Truth29]

Obama is emboldening the Taliban and Al Qaeda. How many more US combat deaths will result from Dear Leader's failure to commit?

[Recon Dad]

we’re exposing our young men and women over there – a number of them have been killed, I’m not blaming the president for that, but we’re exposing them without the proper help that they’ve just got to have.”

Orin Hatch is an assh*le who never says anything without having a way out, if there are two sides two an argument Hatch takes the third side. Having a son in Afghanistan I will put it simply, anything happens to my son it will be Obama’s fault. I am guessing they will have thousands of pissed off families if this wimp of president doesn't make a decision.

[cranked]

Reality is greater than election rhetoric huh, Barry? =.=

[bustinchops]

zero is a foreign policy and domestic policy atrocity.