Obama Afghanistan Decision Likely Pushed Back to December

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

Barack Obama will likely hold off deciding his strategy and troop strength levels until December, according to a New York Times report on his upcoming meeting Wednesday with his national security advisers.

That would make four months since Obama's hand-picked Afghan General Stanley McChrystal made an urgent request in August for 40,000 to 80,000 reinforcements, warning the war would be lost within twelve months without them.

Obama recently asked for new troop level options and for reports on the provincial Afghan governments.

Obama has made numerous excuses for delaying his decision, most prominent of them the election controversy over Hamid Karzai's reelection as Afghanistan's president. The election was resolved last week. Obama's latest excuses were his Asia trip this week and a Nato meeting on the 23rd, until the Times article raised a new excuse--the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November:

Officials said that no decision was expected from Mr. Obama on Wednesday, but that he would mull over the discussions at the meeting during a trip to Asia that begins Thursday. Mr. Obama is not due back in Washington until next Thursday. Officials said that it was possible that he could announce his decision in the three days before Thanksgiving, which is on Nov. 26, but that an announcement in the first week of December seemed more likely.

[kristinn]

God help our troops, please. Their commander-in-chief won't.

[rightwingextremist1776]

Anybody else find the Muzzie Major’s rampage at the thought of being deployed perfect timing to throw a “monkey wrench” in the troop serge for Afghanistan? Anybody see this also? Am I crazy?

[Candor7]

B*STARD!

And after Fort Hood too?

What is WRONG with this POS.

[keepitreal]

Good grief. He can't make a decision while in Asia, send a directive and be done? He has to wait for the perfect moment to announce it?

[LaybackLenny]

The One took the 3 am phone call; rolled over, said wake me at noon.

[5thGenTexan]

I guess since as President Øbama can't vote Present any more, he must now vote Future (delay)...

[Secret Agent Man]

Just can't be rushed to make a decision on Afghanistan. Hell, take six months to pick a dog. Hell, even try to ram a massive unread unfinished healthcare bill through in a couple weeks before August recess and get pissed it didn't happen, but hey, that's not a tough decision there, right Barack?

While you're taking long vacations and then a vacation from your vacation because Teddy's funeral wore you out, after spending literally every week on tv in one form or another, playing hoops or golf, or popping out for ice cream or the organic market or hell burgers,

while all this is going on the troops in Afghanistan wait on what the hell you're going to do there. Don't let the fact things are going to crap quickly and you look indecisive and even though you've had so many meetings and people telling you what they need, you somehow feel people are 'rushing you'. Well we wouldn't want to make a hasty decision now would we.

I think it's a little past the point to be able to call any decision you make on Afghanistan, "hasty".

For the whole series of Zero dollar bills, go here:

"Flickr Archive of Zero Bills"

[Brytani]

He’s waiting for enough of our military to be killed so he can NOT make a decision except to surrender to the Taliban.

Has a dictator ever been able to hold onto power without having the military on their side? He’s ticking off the wrong group of people.

[Secret Agent Man]

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Obozo thinks he can get away with voting “present” on the Afghanistan War - troop request.

What is up with the NY Times and other MSM continuing to write that he is going to agree to send tens of thousands of US Troops to the Afghanitstan theater - while the WH keeps saying the decision is not made and being pushed out even further???

Is NYT trying to lull Americans (who want the CIC to act like one) into thinking Zero has actually acted as most Americans believe he should???? believing most Americans are so dull and dense that we’ll believe he HAS ACTED when he has NOT???

It’s maddening enough for the resident in the WH to continue to NOT agree to what his own handpicked General has recommended and to keep saying the decision is out there somewhere.

Yahoo news keeps reporting that 34,000 troops are going to Afghanistan....(read that at work).

Somebody is feeding that to the LSM - which LIARS are doing it?

[kristinn]

His advisers are terrified that Obama will become LBJ if he signs off on McCrystal's request.

Some folks who care more about winning the war than Obama's image are getting impatient and are strategically leaking to the press.

[Rembrandt]

Deciding to send lots more troops to Afghanistan at the height of the Afghani winter is dumb, Dumbo. Everyone stands down during the Winter. At least it mirrors your other policy decisions, PR first and ineffective from the get go.

PS: Send Rahm, Nancy and Harry over as scouts.

[parisa]

Everything depends on the Health care bill. First and foremost everything is about the health care bill.

Delay there, delay for war strategy, delay for the country’s security, and status of our soldiers in Afghanistan in limbo.

[Candor7]

Our trops are being held for ransom. Another Muslim inheritance now vested in the Obama Junta operation against America.

He blew the economy
He blew employment
He blew the Senate on Health Care
He blew deployment
He blew Fort Hood

Who is he going to blow next?

Hellen Thomas?( Yes I bet. Censorship on the Way)

He doesn’t want anyone to talk about how he blows!

[Candor7]

Great Graphics. I am envious!LOL.

[Candor7]

You are absolutely RIGHT!

And this is what Firt Hood is ALL about.

Its why Fort Hood was selected.

[Jet Jaguar]

He still has not published a National Security Strategy for the United States, as required by Goldwater/Nichols Act.

[Marie]

B-b-but Obama loves our troops! He gave such a pretty speech today at Ft hood! /s

[rightwingextremist1776]

We are SOOOOOO being manipulated.....and it really pisses me off....

[yawningotter]

Winter would be a good time to go after the terrorists while they are hunkered down waiting for the return of fighting weather. Something like what Custer did in his most successful campaigns against the plains Indians. However, I can’t see 0bama making such a decision. IF he does anything, it will be just what he thinks is enough to make it look like he is doing something while actually doing very little. I can see him sending over a small number of troops, but having them sit around the major bases instead of actively hunting down the enemy.