Posted on 11/14/2009 12:15:51 PM PST by Schnucki
President Barack Obama will be forced into yet another "war council" on troops for Afghanistan as rifts deepen between his top political, security and military advisers.
Mr Obama, who has faced withering criticism for "dithering" over his strategy review, is now expected to make the decision on extra troops within a week of arriving back in Washington from Asia.
He will make the announcement that will shape his administration's foreign policy in a major televised speech. Mr Obama will insist that any increase is "not an open-ended commitment" in an attempt to allay fears that Afghanistan is turning into a new Vietnam.
He came under fresh pressure to conclude the much-delayed Afghan military review as he began his nine-day swing through East Asia.
Regional leaders added their voices to those in Europe urging a rapid decision from the President on the request by his commander in Kabul for an extra 40,000 troops. Britain last week called on other Nato allies to boost the alliance's troop numbers by 5,000.
There have been tensions between London and Washington over what has been seen as Mr Obama's "foot dragging" over troop numbers.
However, a Downing Street source said: "We're working on the presumption that an announcement will follow shortly after the President's return from the Far East."
Speaking in Japan, Mr Obama declared: "The decision will be made soon, it will be one that is fully transparent to the American people."
But first he must settle the widening feuds between his most senior advisers. The divisions have been dramatically thrust into the open by a leaked cable from the US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, last week, expressing serious doubts about sending more troops before President Hamid Karzai tackles rampant corruption.
That put the retired general in the camp of
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Obama will send troops with their hands tied and once our body count discourages the american public, he will decide to pull out. He knows his strategy.
“in an attempt to allay fears”
The libs are very fearful.
War council, focus group session. What’s the diff.
That would be another “war council” with Rahm-bo, Valerie Jarrett, and Baghdad Bob Gibbs in attendance, but maybe not so many actual Generals and military leaders...
Oh, and probably NBC News correspondents.
The CIC dithers, while our Troops bleed on the battlefield.
Why do I learn more from British newpapers than our own about what’s going on in this country?
And morale declines. How can all the services not be effected by this dangerous dithering? They can see that the Ditherer-in-Chief could care less about them.
Ditherer-In-Chief.
What an odd thing to say about this issue. We know what the promised transparency has meant with other issues (complete secrecy and then ram it through), but why say that here? What does he have in mind?
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