Petraeus buys Afghan war time. But how much?

[unhappycamper]

Petraeus buys Afghan war time. But how much?
By Phil Stewart and Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON | Tue Sep 21, 2010 7:31am EDT

(Reuters) - General David Petraeus' clout as the U.S. commander credited with turning around the Iraq war is buying time in Congress as he attempts to do the same in Afghanistan, senior lawmakers said on Monday.

But how much time he'll have to demonstrate success is unclear, given deepening anxiety over the unpopular conflict, particularly within President Barack Obama's Democratic Party.

A White House review of the Afghan campaign in December is expected to test U.S. patience for the unpopular, 9-year-old war, given limitations on the degree of progress the U.S. military can show in just three months' time.

Lawmakers appearing at the Reuters Washington Summit said they believed Petraeus' credibility gave the Obama administration some breathing room, given the four-star general's role pulling Iraq back from the brink of all-out sectarian warfare in 2007 and 2008.

Like Iraq then, many critics now fear the Afghan war may be "unwinnable."

[saigon68]

1. When you bribe most of the leadership things get done

That's his success story.

He's like a mafia don, his shtick won't work in Afghan-Nam

[vaberella]

2. No it won't. He didn't get the unlimited troops and time.

He got an exit-plan and 6 month check ups. Things aren't turning around it's too bad because we're out this summer in some numbers.

[saigon68]

4. We'll see

Its a never ending cesspool

[Swamp Rat]

3. k&r