The prospect that U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal may ask for as many as 45,000 additional American troops in Afghanistan is fueling growing tension within President Barack Obama’s administration over the U.S. commitment to the war there.
On Monday, McChrystal sent his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan to the Pentagon, the U.S. Central Command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and NATO. Although the assessment didn’t include any request for more troops, senior military officials said they expect McChrystal later in September to seek between 21,000 and 45,000 more. There currently are 62,000 American troops in Afghanistan.
However, administration officials said that amid rising violence and casualties, polls show a majority of Americans now think the war in Afghanistan isn’t worth fighting. With tough battles ahead on health care, the budget and other issues, Vice President Joe Biden and other officials are increasingly anxious about how the American public would respond to sending additional troops.
Since the surge didn’t work in Iraq, why should the same failed policy be followed in Afghanistan?
No war for poppies! Obama’s war in Afghanistan is wrong for America. When will he get Osama bin Laden? Everyone knows that he is hiding in Pakistan.
Cindy Sheehan says:
“By the way, President Obama: Where’s the change? What’s with all this “indefinite detention” anyway? We’re doing it within the USA itself? (Wasn’t that a Bush policy?) We’re still doing it? Today? Was that a change? But what the *bleep* do I know?”
Source: http://www.cindysheehanssoapbox.com/
Very interesting to be hoisted by one’s own petards. The President is politically damned if he fights the war and damned (as is civilization as we know it) if he doesn’t fight it. A true Hobson’s choice for him. I guess we’ll see how much wisdom and courage he has over the next month or so.
I suppose we will be treated next to the “Afghanization” of the war, and then “peace with honor” as the last chopper leaves the US Embassy in Kabul. Then PelosiReid can enjoy their self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.
Joshua, no, don’t you remember. Afghanistan is the good war. Failure was only going to occur in Iraq. This war can be possibly be won, but it will take longer to build up the country than Iraq because the culture is so much less developed than Iraq and the terrain makes it so much harder to control the borders. Much will depend on Pakistan’s willingness to help, which also influences our dealings with India. Very complex situation and I fear way too complex for the very limited experience of our current administration, especially our very inexperienced President and equally inexperienced Sec of State.