Obama Is Considering Strategy Shift in Afghan War

nytimes.com ^ | September 23,009 | Kevin Wolf

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

WASHINGTON — President Obama is exploring alternatives to a major troop increase in Afghanistan, including a plan advocated by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to scale back American forces and focus more on rooting out Al Qaeda there and in Pakistan, officials said Tuesday.

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who spoke Tuesday in National Harbor, Md., wants to scale back troops in Afghanistan.

The options under review are part of what administration officials described as a wholesale reconsideration of a strategy the president announced with fanfare just six months ago. Two new intelligence reports are being conducted to evaluate Afghanistan and Pakistan, officials said.

The sweeping reassessment has been prompted by deteriorating conditions on the ground, the messy and still unsettled outcome of the Afghan elections and a dire report by Mr. Obama’s new commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Unbelievable that Biden makes this trial balloon announcement/decision? because 0bama can't vote 'present.'

[SampleMan]

Defeat isn’t a strategy.

[DAC21]

Taking advise from Joe Biden is a treasonable offense.

[austinaero]

I’m no military expert but it seems to me the time to “explore alternatives” has long passed. Why is this just now happening? Wasn’t there some vociferous exploring of alternatives by this administration during last year’s campaign?

[Eddie01]

Obama Is Considering Strategy Shift in is waffling on Afghan War

There, fixed it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It’s a Democrat tradition.

[bobsatwork]

scale back American forces and focus more on rooting out Al Qaeda... What a strategy! 'Scale back' to 'focus more'. I'm thinking of 'scaling back' working in my yard, so I can 'focus more' on landscaping.

[Need4Truth]

to scale back American forces and focus more on rooting out Al Qaeda there and in Pakistan,

Could we call this a "police action" (aka Vietnam).

[dirtboy]

Part of the core problem is that Afghanistan is not a country the way France or Brazil or the U.S. is - it is as tribal as they come - a patchwork of ethnic conflict. However, the one thing that can unify the tribes long enough to stop shooting at each other is a common enemy, and bringing in too many troops might just provide a sense of occupation that could unite them.

I'm really not sure just what can work there - the Soviets went in with no holds barred and got kicked out (with some US logistical help). Iran and others stand ready to give the Taliban and other groups similar help. This is a very difficult situation. The problem is, we have rank amatuers trying to come to grips with it - and they are so weak that political factors come in well ahead of practical/military factors.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[mmichaels1970]

including a plan advocated by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to scale back American forces

Haven't we learned anything about allowing politicians to control a war rather than generals? I think that happened before.

[dirtboy]

scale back American forces and focus more on rooting out Al Qaeda...

It's kinda hard to drain the Al Qaeda swamp when you are ignoring the Taliban alligators that are killing your soldiers.

[silverleaf]

Here we go- today’s meat (actually more like a cold chicken nugget) tossed by Rahmbo and Axelrod at their morning briefing to the state-run media - for dissemination without attribution

“Joe has a plan”

[niteowl77]

Rahm Emanuel using Joe Biden as a trial ballon boy again?

[silverleaf]

Two weeks ago 4 US marines died under withering fire, screaming for air and artillery cover, as the commander of reinforcements explored alternatives

[Kakaze]

obama, has no fear of spending money, so spend it !

Take the gloves off and win the damn thing.

[BillyBonebrake]

Prayers to those boots on the ground over there.

[silverleaf]

“Haven’t we learned anything about allowing politicians to control a war rather than generals? I think that happened before.”

Hmm. I wonder if Colin Powell has any thoughts on that

[o_zarkman44]

Weakness. Obama can’t even stand up to the most radical in his administration.

If we keep up the pressure with the Tea Parties perhaps we can force him to back town. He is weak.

[Mouton]

Depending on whether the bus in moving forward or backward will determine how OZero responds to any criticism. If the Congress says hell no we want to win, OZero will toss Biden under the bus. Of course this is highly unlikely given the tendencies of the dems. If they agree we need to back off, OZero will claim Biden was just promoting his idea.

Heads I win, Tails you lose Joe, get used to it.