Closing Arguments: Obama’s Afghanistan War Strategy
EmailIt was another bloody day in Afghanistan, where a suicide car bomb outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul killed 17 people. ABC News also learned today that General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has put three three options on on the president's desk. The first, described as "high risk," involves keeping troop levels where they are. The second, which General McChrystal reportedly recommends, involves 40,000 additional troops being deployed to Afghanistan. The third involves a far greater increase in troop levels. President Obama is scheduled to have more meetings on war strategy at the White House tomorrow. So tonight, we ask: Which of the three options do you think the president should pursue? Tell us what you think. You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.
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My brother is in the Army and currently stationed in Afghanistan. From what I’ve heard and read about his brigade, we definitely need more troops. They have lost approximately 16 soldiers since their July deployment.
Posted by: Elizabeth B | October 9, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
If we pull out of the Middle East, Completely! We could fix the Budget.
Posted by: P. Johnson | October 9, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
I think our President should choose option 1 on nightlines closing argument tonight.
Posted by: Patricia Roberts | October 9, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
As a mom of a Marine I am absolutely against keeping troop levels at their current number. The only two options I am in favor of is either pull them out and come home or increase the troop levels to an amount that will stabilize that country and get the job done. We are currently so under staffed there that it is a detriment to our troops. They are not safe, they cannot accomplish their goals, the insurgents are using our rules of engagement (no retaliation if civilians are present) to their benefit. I say go big or go home.
Posted by: Kim Grover | October 9, 2009, 12:12 am 12:12 am
My thoughts about Afghanistan. We should pay Afghan soldiers American wages to fight for the countries beliefs and freedoms. They should stop wearing uniforms and dress like Afghans. We would give air support and the war would be over. Our soldiers could come home.
Posted by: RICHARD CARTWRIGHT | October 9, 2009, 12:14 am 12:14 am
Let’s not have another Viet Nahm, half war, to keep the ammo companies in business. Sent the maximum troops in and get the job finished.
Posted by: Barb | October 9, 2009, 12:16 am 12:16 am
General McChrystal is far better qualified than President Obamain in determining what action should be taken. Therefore, the president should activate option 2 and provide the additional 40,000 troops. This will end the war sooner and result in less military and civilian casualties.
Posted by: Don Gray | October 9, 2009, 12:18 am 12:18 am
To keep and honor his campaign promises
he has no choice but “B”.
Posted by: Gary Rollins | October 9, 2009, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Obama should define what our goal is; then if a military option is decided we need to fully commit to the course that our military leaders say they need. If we don’t it would be like deciding to play basketball with Michael Jordan bare foot. Why do it if your not going to give 100% toward succeding. We did that in Vietnam
Posted by: Bill | October 9, 2009, 12:27 am 12:27 am
Need to call China and see if they consider this prudent use of their funds to act as the world police. Need clear objectives and goals or get out!
Posted by: D Parrish | October 9, 2009, 12:28 am 12:28 am
Eight years is a long time for the war in Afghanistan to go on without a political, not a military option and strategy to persue this war. How many years will this go on, and how many deaths and injuries must our troops suffer before our leaders come to their senses and give them the resources they need to effectively fight this conflict. Obama needs to pay heed to his military advisers who have “boots on the ground” and are privy to what is needed in Afghanistan and quit trying to “micro-manage” this war as was done during the Viet-Nam conflict.[ Geez...must be the reincarnated spirit of Robert McNamara speaking to him] My choice is door number two…give them the troops they asked for and the materials they need to to bring this war to a quick and decisive end. TIME FOR HIM TO MAKE A DECISION!!!!
Posted by: Nachthexe | October 9, 2009, 12:33 am 12:33 am
Give the General what he needs to get this war to an end.
Posted by: rick kuehn | October 9, 2009, 12:34 am 12:34 am
I am against sending more troops to
A. I think we should pull all the troops out. It’s very upsetting to read about our soldiers being killed. Let them fight their own wars, we have lost to many lives already in wars. Why is it always we americans doing all the rescuing? Why aren’t other countries helping?????NO NO NO Do not send more troops.
Posted by: fran | October 9, 2009, 12:42 am 12:42 am
I think President Obama should send substantially more troops in a strategic way so that the Taliban may be isolated and disabled.
Posted by: Mario Garcia | October 9, 2009, 12:45 am 12:45 am
Duh?! Ask a general for three solutions to a problem, and his answers will be (a) troops, (b) more troops, and (c) lots more troops.
The “war” in Afghanistan ended a long time ago — we won — so more troops won’t help. What we need is some intelligent diplomacy and some key financial and economic incentives to help the Afghan people.
Unfortunately, neither the President nor our Secretary of State have the intelligence to pull this off…
Posted by: Revello1630 | October 9, 2009, 12:46 am 12:46 am
Why are we wasting precious time? What’s wrong with this picture…The president puts a very experienced General in charge of this war. Then we learn that instead of taking his advice to send the troops necessary to win this war, this inept doofus-in-chief is listening to his “security council” which consists of similar doofuses with just as much knowledge & experience as the chief doofus! If this weren’t so serious, I’d swear this was a three stooges movie! LISTEN TO GENERAL MC CHRYSTAL & SEND THE TROOPS ASAP! ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!
Posted by: Mary Anne A | October 9, 2009, 1:13 am 1:13 am
Leaving Afghanistan at this point is not an option – we know with certainty that Afghanistan would quickly return to a haven and training ground for terrorist. And, we’ve learned from Vietnam and Iraq that a lack of troops just frustrates our efforts and leads to a longer war. Increase the troops by at LEAST 40,000.
Posted by: paid surveys | October 9, 2009, 1:19 am 1:19 am
I have two sons serving…One is in Afghanistan. I say send as many as it takes to get this done!! We dont want to have to repeat this in again in a few years!!
Posted by: Cheri | October 9, 2009, 1:20 am 1:20 am
Plan B. send in 40,000 troops the General asked for, if we are going to win, lets get in and get it done. Lets quit playing around, Our Troops and American are worth the expense, surely more than the bail outs we have paid to the banks for nothing, except more debt.
Where are the brains of this Congress and President that we are paying for with our tex dollars. Let the people’s voices be heard.
Posted by: Ann Forbush | October 9, 2009, 1:23 am 1:23 am
I hope President Obama doesn’t/isn’t using this as a political tool. If our General thinks we need 40,000 more troops, I say give them to him. We can always pull them back out if it has no effect. It appears we’re losing the war because we don’t have enough troops to inbed them into the communities and make Afghanistan a safe place for the good guys.
Posted by: small ziplock bags | October 9, 2009, 1:24 am 1:24 am
I think Obama should listen to the general that he appointed. I think that General McChrystal is more qualified to provide advice than Vice President Biden. Who does Mr. Biden think will provide the intelligence for missle strikes if we leave?
Posted by: Pinwheel | October 9, 2009, 1:37 am 1:37 am
As the spouse of a Marine who has yet to be deployed over seas to the middle east, I personally do not want to see any more troops sent over to the middle east. With that said, this war has been going on for far too long and President Obama should do whatever it takes to get our men safely back home, even if that means sending many more troops. I want my husband to be able to come home safe to me and not have to worry about him potentially getting injured or hurt.
Posted by: A. Klimek | October 9, 2009, 1:41 am 1:41 am
send in as many troops as our military commanders ask for!not only troops but any other logistical needs our military needs.I served for 10 years in the Marine Corps.These men and women serving are of the finest in America.Now we need the present commander in chief to set his inexperiance asside,and let the military professionals do their duties.This so called commander in chief needs to go back to school and learn military tactics.America has many of these schools,and I’m certain they would be more than happy to instruct him. LET’S NOT HAVE ANOTHER VIETNAN
Posted by: ed | October 9, 2009, 2:02 am 2:02 am
It was another bloody day in Afghanistan, where a suicide car bomb outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul killed 17 people.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
30,000 suicides and 18,000 homicides happen each year in the US. What are we doing about that?
Well?
Why worry about Afghanistan?
3,000 killed by the terrorists 8 years ago and 100 of Billions of dollars later we are still killing each other here at home at the rate of 18,000 a year.
Maybe we are focused in the wrong location. If 18,000 homicides a year isn’t terror I do not know what is.
Posted by: Thinking | October 9, 2009, 2:24 am 2:24 am
I agree with Don Gray that General McChrystal is far better qualified than President Obama in what is needed in Afghanistan. If we learned anything from Vietnam is to keep the war in thier backyard and don’t make the same mistake like they did in 1966 that led to the 1968 TET ofensive which was the shortage of men. Now they want 40,000. Send 80,000 or more. Lets push them all the way through Pakastien and capture Oshit bin laden.
Posted by: Terry Cobra | October 9, 2009, 2:39 am 2:39 am
We pull out now all our brave soldiers have died in vein, and the countless thousands who have died at the hand of the Extremest have won, and the threat will remain…
Posted by: Squidd | October 9, 2009, 2:59 am 2:59 am
I am i United States Marine Fiance. My Fiance and my best friends husband are both in afganhanstain. They both say troops are needed. General lee is the head man in charge for a reason. Maybe we should listen to someone what knows a little something about war.
People that Joined the military knew what they were getting into. It frankly pisses my fiance when people say we need to pull out or let it be. Finish what we started. Americans Help others thats how it always has been and how it always will be.
If u dont stand behind our troops feel free to stand in front of them.
Posted by: Lexy | October 9, 2009, 3:11 am 3:11 am
Simply maintaining the status quo does not seem like a viable option because no progress is being made and too many of our men are dying. I have never understood why we have not found and captured Osama. If Google Earth can see the barbecue in my yard why can’t we find him? We have been there for eight years. Do we really want to or is their some other motivation for maintaining our presence there? If we decide to stay and have a clear goal then send in the troops necessary to get the job done. Otherwise get out.
Posted by: Kathy | October 9, 2009, 3:28 am 3:28 am
We should pull out all of our troops who are becoming nothing but target practices for the locals. We should allow Americans to begin picking up the pieces at home and abroad, b/c we’re so broken and impoverished like what was portrayed in Michael Moore’s new Movie -”Capitalism”. If we stop being war mongers, other countries could then relax and have a better chance of putting down their arms, while Americans could save the War $$$ to rebuild America, and begin the process of healing, finding our good souls, and the capacity for being the constructive world citizens that we can be proud again. Why is it that we went to Europe and Japan to teach them all of the Best Practices we once knew and could’t benefit from the same or pass down to future generations? For once I’m convinced that we’re a people better off without the heavy influence of greed and $$$.
God bless America is my prayer everyday!!!
Posted by: Monkey Wrench | October 9, 2009, 3:30 am 3:30 am
The critical issue the United States must address before addressing the issue of committing 40,000 more, or any more, troops is the issue of how do we deal with a corrupt government that does not have the support of the majority of the Afgan people. We can commit thousands of more American and coalition lives to this endeavor but without dealing with the critical issue of there being a government that has the support its citizens and is considered a legitimate government, any foreign assistance perceived to support a corrupt regime will be wasted effort.
The United States should not repeat the Russian example of trying to support an unpopular government that resulted in a years-long quagmire that they finally realized was futile and withdrew from, in defeat in the eyes of the world.
Posted by: Chas Mc | October 9, 2009, 3:32 am 3:32 am
there’s always been a shortage of troops,sending 10-20,000 at a time just it’s going to get the job done! It’s been way too long getting the job done over there, not having enough troops. It’s time to bite the bullet and send in a massive amount like about 150,000 troops, but other countries need to do the same. We need to win the war over there, we can’t afford to just walk away like Russia did! We have much more at stake.
Posted by: Dave Mc G. | October 9, 2009, 3:34 am 3:34 am
The American people put there faith in Mr.Obama during the election and felt he was the person to fix all the messes Mr.Bush made and left behind. Now it’s time for him to stand up and show the American people that there votes were worth all the efforts! President Obama, you must do what ever it takes to win and finish the war in afghanistan to make a clear and infact point, that the American people are not failures when it comes to harm to our country from foreign countries. And that the American people aren’t quitters.
Posted by: Dave Mc G. | October 9, 2009, 3:53 am 3:53 am
Send the troops, get the job done, and draw down sooner and when needed. There is simply no reason to think that we cannot accomplish what we did in Iraq. It may be a while longer for us to get ‘completely’ out, but A-stan is more vulnerable. This is a great opportunity for BHO to actually finish something. Will he sieze such a sure thing? Will he insure that those who already died did not do so in vain? I regret having to ask such questions and having served twice, I am all but dishonored to have to.
Posted by: Eric - WA | October 9, 2009, 4:21 am 4:21 am
Go bigger or Go home. Waffling is not an option-
Posted by: Ken/Kathy @ Lawndale | October 9, 2009, 7:03 am 7:03 am
As the general said- time is of the essence in the fight. G Gordon Liddy said it right: ‘When you are in a fight, you fight’. Give the general what he needs, we don’t need another Vietnam.
Posted by: Ken/Kathy @ Lawndale | October 9, 2009, 7:11 am 7:11 am
It is unconscionable in my opinion, to ignore what our hard fighting generals say we need to win this war. For us to be sitting safe at home with our fighting men and women in harm’s way, while we spend week-in and week-out hypothesizing what it takes to win a war when we have no experience and not the foggiest notion of what it takes is nothing short of playing into the enemy’s hands.
Posted by: Ken/Kathy @ Lawndale | October 9, 2009, 7:29 am 7:29 am
This one is a no-brainer. The third option is the obvious choice. If we leave troop levels where they are or if send a measly 40,000 more, we will see thousands more of our countrymen and countrywomen slaughtered off a few at a time, because we are only fighting the war to fight it, not to win it.
Let’s get at least another 250,000 troops over there pronto. The more, the better. Obama needs to immediately reinstate the draft and make it permanent. We need to have a strong and capable military with enough members to fight wars properly. We need to get the troops over there and win the war promptly, and thereby bring peace to Afghanistan. And, we need to back the troops up with missiles and other technology. Then, we need to keep troops there, in order maintain the peace. We know how to do these things from World War II. Let’s get going and stop pussyfooting around. Afghanistan is becoming another Vietnam. We should not just walk away and let things collapse the way that this country shamefully did in Vietnam. We need to win the war to bring peace to Afghanistan once and for all.
It is time for Obama to start earning that Nobel prize that he was given in advance of doing anything to deserve it.
Posted by: Proud Native American and Angry Independent Voter | October 12, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Soldiers will always talk like soldiers.what else do you expect from the general.why commit so much resources to a course that is unnecessary. withdraw the troops and let the afghans sort themselves out.
Posted by: E. ILEVBAOJE | October 14, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
To Rick and others who say that the Afgan people fight their own war. YOu can’t fight a war against well organized mobsters! This is really a gender war and their agenda is to spread islam to the free world. Not only would they like to see women in Berkas but they want full control of everything not unlike the mobsters that run Chicago! Capish!
These women are crying for mercy and asking to be free. Everyone who has a son who is cohearsed into joining the Taliban is asking to be Free. Freedom…Its a good thing.
Posted by: Colette | October 26, 2009, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
I think that we should just bomb the crap out of Afghanistan and take their oil.
Posted by: erica | December 1, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm