Obama's New Afghanistan Plan May Be Much Like Old One

[tekisui]

Source: Christian Science Monitor

Washington - The Afghanistan war plan President Obama will announce next week won't stray far from the strategy he laid out eight months ago, say experts.

After nine meetings with his war council – and reports of vigorous disagreement within the administration – Mr. Obama seems likely to stick to the strategy he announced in March, perhaps incorporating elements from other proposals.

His top general in Afghanistan favors a "counterinsurgency" approach that would entail a massive increase in the number of US troops there. Others such as Vice President Biden reportedly prefer a "counter-terrorism" policy that would emphasize targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts.

"There will be something in there for everyone," says one official who is close to the deliberations. "Nobody got everything, but everybody got something."

Obama indicated Tuesday that he was not shying away from the fight in Afghanistan. "It is in our strategic interest, in our national security interest, to make sure that Al Qaeda and its extremist allies cannot operate effectively in those areas," Obama said at the White House. "We are going to dismantle and degrade their capabilities and ultimately dismantle and destroy their networks."

Obama's plan is likely to include:

•More forces. Obama is expected to announce an increase of between 30,000 and 40,000 additional forces for Afghanistan on top of the 68,000 already there. Those forces will conduct combat missions as well as training missions to increase the size of the Afghan national security forces. The additional forces, depending on their number, will be used to shore up sparsely-deployed forces around the country or concentrated on populated areas.

•More civilians.

•More Afghan National Security Forces.

•Deals with some Taliban.

•Bigger NATO contribution.

Explanations at link: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1125/p02s08-usmi.html

[Aramchek]

1. well if the Christian Scientists say it, we can take it as Gospel, right?

[tekisui]

2. Are you saying CSM is an unreliable source?

[mike_c]

4. I suspect the DUer is trying to shove his/her head...

...a bit further into the sand. It isn't really true until the money is already gone and the body bags are all unloaded!

[SIMPLYB1980]

3. LOL!

[Skittles]

5. something in there for everyone

satisfying no one

this seems to be a recurring theme

[anonymous171]

7. Yep. Obama is looking more and more one term-y

Like Bush Sr.

[Skittles]

9. well, I remember when Clinton looked the same

there's still time but honestly he really needs to get his act together - the clown circus that was/is HCR is embarassing

[tekisui]

10. HRC or HCR?

[Skittles]

11. lol

oops; fixed :D

[branders seine]

6. you left out more casualties.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Nice

:grr: