Obama adviser: Afghanistan in no immediate danger of falling

[bemildred]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- There is no immediate danger of Afghanistan falling to the Taliban, one of President Obama's top advisers said Sunday.

"I don't foresee the return of the Taliban," National Security Adviser James Jones said on CNN's "State of the Union." "And I want to be very clear that Afghanistan is not in danger -- imminent danger -- of falling."

Obama is overseeing a review of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, with his top general in that country, some other military leaders and opposition Republicans pressing him to act quickly to increase the present 68,000-troop level by up to 40,000 troops.

"This is a strategic moment," Jones, a retired Marine Corps general, said of the review that included a three-hour meeting of top Cabinet officials, generals and other advisers last week. Additional meetings are planned for the coming week.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/04/us.afghanistan /

[emilyg]

1. What about the men and women

being killed?

[EFerrari]

2. Cool. We have the official denial.

[bemildred]

5. Well, I feel better knowing there is still time.

It's a "strategic moment". Great minds are at work at this very moment figuring out what to do.

[timeforpeace]

3. Of course not, we're there to keep that from happening. After we leave though...

[Vattel]

4. It's hard to imagine the Taliban retaking

the entire nation because they are so hated by most Afghans. Unfortunately, Karzai is also despised by a large percentage of the Tajiks and the other non-Pastun ethnic groups. If I were among those groups I would probably want the nation to break apart with the Pastuns (and with them the Taliban) being left to their own devices. On the other hand, that would leave the poor Pshtuns with almost no hope for anything but Taliban control or constant civil war. What a fucked-up situation.

[notesdev]

6. "There are no Americans in Baghdad"

10 more dead today for, apparently, no good reason.

[excess_3]

8. the good? reason, is that Obama does not want Iran ...

the good? reason, is that Obama does not want Iran
or Afghanistan to fall,
which would distract attention
from the health care debate.

meanwhile, our soldiers die.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. I'm glad Afghanistan is in such great shape.

Can we leave now?

[elocs]

9. Imminent: "Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending;"

If that is the definition that is meant, then I would agree that Afghanistan is in any imminent or immediate danger of falling to the Taliban. If and when that happens depends upon how badly the Afghani people want to keep and hold their own country against the Taliban. If they really want their country, then if we arm and support them they should be able to do that themselves since no world superpower is backing the Taliban. The bottom line is that there is no way we can indefinitely be the nation's bodyguard.

[billh58]

10. What's the

worst thing that could happen if Afghanistan were to "fall?" The Taliban would resume the oppression of their own people? OBL would have a new home? They would increase their opium output? While these are not ideal scenarios, they are no different from what the world tolerated and ignored until 9/11.

It's not the "fall" of sub-Third World Afghanistan that is worrisome, it is the possible takeover of Pakistan, and their nuclear arsenal, that would constitute the need for an all out, no-holds-barred war against the Taliban and their Al Qaeda buddies. And yes, that would include "collateral damage," and the loss of many thousands of civilian lives.

[BobTheSubgenius]

11. Define "failing"

If the capital and a fair percentage of the country still being in 'friendly' hands means said country is .....succeeding? Is that enough?