Military officials said Obama has asked for a rewrite before and resisted what one official called a one-way highway toward war commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal's recommendations for more troops. The sense that he was being rushed and railroaded has stiffened Obama's resolve to seek information and options beyond military planning, officials said, though a substantial troop increase is still likely.

 

The president was considering options that include adding 30,000 or more U.S. forces to take on the Taliban in key areas of Afghanistan and to buy time for the Afghan government's small and ill-equipped fighting forces to take over. The other three options on the table Wednesday were ranges of troop increases, from a relatively small addition of forces to the roughly 40,000 that the top U.S. general in Afghanistan prefers, according to military and other officials.

 

The key sticking points appear to be timelines and mounting questions about the credibility of the Afghan government.

 

Administration officials said Wednesday that Obama wants to make it clear that the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan is not open-ended. The war is now in its ninth year and is claiming U.S. lives at a record pace as military leaders say the Taliban has the upper hand in many parts of the country.

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As a person that voted for Mr. Obama. I am very dispointed that he has not spent more time solving the War.

As a person that voted for Mr. Obama. I am very dispointed that he has not spent more time solving the War.

 

You don't think that by asking for more strategies and ideas that he is not trying to "solve" the war? What more would you have him do . . . simply send 40,000?

Edited November 13, 200916 yr by bugatti

You don't think that by asking for more strategies and ideas that he is not trying to "solve" the war? What more would you have him do . . . simply send 40,000?

 

Wouldn't the general in charge of the theater be the best person to ask regarding this subject? As such this general has asked for more troops.

Edited November 13, 200916 yr by bugatti

The man who voted 'present' almost as often as yes or no is finding out what it is like to really have to make a tough decision. Once when asked when life begins he replied "That's above my pay grade", well this is way out of his pay range. He just wants out, he is not interested in winning. Yet, maybe through some miracle he will realize we have to stay and win and the road to victory is through the advice of his general that he appointed.

Obama was elected in large part because of the public's perception of him as being a break from the "Ask-Questions-Later School of Important Decision-Making" the previous president seemed to adhere to. As such, I don't begrudge him for taking his time, considering multiple opinions, and coming to a confident and pragmatic conclusion.

Obama was elected in large part because of the public's perception of him as being a break from the "Ask-Questions-Later School of Important Decision-Making" the previous president seemed to adhere to. As such, I don't begrudge him for taking his time, considering multiple opinions, and coming to a confident and pragmatic conclusion.

 

I certainly don't want Presidents making rash decisions on issues as major as this one; but his general's advise has been on the table for months?? This is the guy he chose to advise him on this war, and he says he needs reinforcements--How many soldiers are dying while Obama's holding his finger in the air testing the political winds????

Obama was elected in large part because of the public's perception of him as being a break from the "Ask-Questions-Later School of Important Decision-Making" the previous president seemed to adhere to. As such, I don't begrudge him for taking his time, considering multiple opinions, and coming to a confident and pragmatic conclusion.

 

Didn't he also get elected b/c of saying the real war is in Afhanistan against terrorist groups? He has taken his time. I said 6 weeks ago if he didn't like what he was told replace the giy he appointed. If he leaves the General there give him the support he needs.

Obama has no............

Obama has no............

 

...desire to send 100,000 troops into an unwinnable war, a la the Soviet Union?

Obama has no............

 

Clue??

you don't think that by asking for more strategies and ideas that he is not trying to "solve" the war. what more would you have him do . . . simply send 40,000

 

 

As strong of a Dem that I am, to answer your question "NO" IMO he should have had a plan of attack when he took office or some idea on what direction to take. We are losing the to many kids for no reason at all. He has a guy over their telling him what to do. The war is far more important than Health Care.

 

Give me 15 minutes and there will be no more war. I takes one switch.

 

I think he should have addressed issues in this order.

 

1. War

2. Economy

3. tax reform

4. Health Care.

As strong of a Dem that I am, to answer your question "NO" IMO he should have had a plan of attack when he took office or some idea on what direction to take. We are losing the to many kids for no reason at all. He has a guy over their telling him what to do. The war is far more important than Health Care.

 

Give me 15 minutes and there will be no more war. I takes one switch.

 

I think he should have addressed issues in this order.

 

1. War

2. Economy

3. tax reform

4. Health Care.

 

Unfortunately for the kids in the military and the people of this country, his real priorities are:

 

1. Universal Healthcare (ie: growth of government)

2. Tax Reform (read increases on everyone, and further redistribution of wealth)

3. Setting the stage for re-election by directing the bulk of his so-called "stimulus money" to pay off his political allies with their pet projects.

4. Appeasement of his far left base.

5. He hasn't gotten this far yet??

6. The needs of the country--Not concerned because he knows better how to direct our lives than we simpletons do.

I find the rhetoric of the Obama defender's more than just a little bit ironic.

 

It wasn't that long ago one could hear those on the left saying that Iraq was a war of choice but Afghanistan was a war of necessity. They said that Iraq had drained away resources that should have been going toward Afghanistan. They said that the proper course of action was to get out of Iraq as fast as possible so we could put our attention where it really needed to be - Afghanistan. They promised that if they won the election no longer would Afghanistan be neglected. They promised swift action to ensure that the necessary men, material, and other resources would be available to win the one war we ought to be fighting. They promised that they would listen to the commanders on the ground, something they accused the Bush administration of not doing when Bush and Rumsfeld failed to blindly accept proposals laid before them by the military. They also assured skeptics that they could win the war, some even boasted that had they been in charge they would have been able to catch or kill Bin Laden. In summary, they promised to do what it takes to win the war that they agreed was vital to the security interests of the United States

 

My how things have changed! While before they advocated swift action, they now counsel studied reflection. While before they promised a flood of resources, they now withhold them. Actions that had been proof of presidential arrogance are now characterized as the prerogative of the President as commander-in-chief. While before they promised to make Afghanistan the top priority, they now concentrate on Healthcare. While before they were confident of victory, they are not so self-assured. Some even claim that the war is unwinnable. While Afghanistan had been vital to US interests, they now dismiss its importance. Yes, things have definitely changed.

Edited November 13, 200916 yr by shooter

Why do we think that the President and his administration can only work on one issue at a time? Do we really believe that Sec Clinton is not working on "State" issues and is putting all of her efforts into healthcare?

 

Or is it possible that the administration works just like all administrations do? Isn't that why we have departments?