Inside Today’s WH Afghanistan Meeting
EmailFrom the White House side, the President (naturally) did most of the talking. Laid out the importance of the decision, how he’s going about making it (“rigorously and deliberately”), and how he sees the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan now (progress in Pakistan, post-election challenges in Afghanistan). Vice President Biden had some brief interventions. General Jones kept his own counsel.
Most of the 18 Members and Senators in the room spoke – both Democrats and Republicans. On the GOP side, Cantor urged the President to follow the advice of his commanders. Boehner said Republicans would back Obama if he pursued a “robust” counter-insurgency strategy and questioned the efficacy of a targeted “counter-terrorist” strategy. McCain warned that the decision should not be made at a “leisurely” pace.
Bristling a bit, Obama assured him it wouldn’t (but he did not say when his review would be finished).
The President also assured Boehner that he didn’t think a pure counter-terrorism strategy would work either, rejecting the “all in/all out” straw man.
Democrats Pelosi, Clyburn and Obey were most skeptical of more troops. Skelton, Hoyer and Feinstein most hawkish. Levin pushed hard for more focus on training Afghan forces. Kerry focused more on Pakistan (Lugar too). After the meeting Reid said that everyone in the room told the President they would support whatever decision he made. Not true. (His staff later acknowledged that Reid misspoke).
No one I talked to believes the President has made up his mind. But it sure sounds like he’s searching for a middle ground – a position that may not please anyone from the start. If that’s the course Obama takes, can he make the case? Likely to be his biggest test yet.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
I feel sorry for the families of the eight soliders that lost their lives. But I want to know why should we send more of our sons to die if someone is going to put them in harms way in a valley to die, what kind of since does that make knowning how hard it is to defend something above you. they don’t need more soliders they need someone with common sense.
Posted by: murf | October 6, 2009, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
more soldiers,less rules of engagement,take the gloves off and certainly take no prisoners…they will be released from gittmo to fight another day. better yet send pelosi over there…she will scare the talliban into submission
Posted by: catman | October 6, 2009, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
The British tried and sent in 14,000 troops in 17,00′s , one came back alive.
The Russians,a hardy ruthless regime, used to the climate and terrain pulled out in the 80′s with tail between their legs, yes and The US of A is going to win Alleluiah !!
Posted by: peter chrzanowski | October 6, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
In American football, some coaches play not-to-lose rather than to win, and often end up losing the game as a result. The middle ground Obama may seek, send some but not the whole contigent of troops the military commanders want, is a not-to-lose scenario.
Posted by: ed | October 6, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
1. Give up the mountain/wilderness fighting to the goats/taliban/alqueda in this war that requires patience and relentless provocation rather like eradicating fire ants, one mound at a time.
2. Set up very strong perimeters at major cities and towns…that civilization might thrive and prosper while the taliban enjoy their caves, snow and mud.
3. Drone the mountains/wilderness with unpredictable terror to the taliban and assorted roaches.
4. Send the Afghan military out of the perimeters to defend their own country.
Posted by: Brad | October 6, 2009, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
Obama must listen to the generals on the ground. Pelosi. Clyburn and Obey don’t know what they are talking about.
Posted by: kottaras | October 7, 2009, 12:37 am 12:37 am
1. Give up the mountain/wilderness fighting to the goats/taliban/alqueda in this war that requires patience and relentless provocation rather like eradicating fire ants, one mound at a time.
2. Set up very strong perimeters at major cities and towns…that civilization might thrive and prosper while the taliban enjoy their caves, snow and mud.
3. Drone the mountains/wilderness with unpredictable terror to the taliban and assorted roaches.
4. Send the Afghan military out of the perimeters to defend their own country.
Posted by: Brad | Oct 6, 2009 8:11:17 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My thinking is along those lines with modifications:
1) Flood the country with 1000s of ‘Drones’. Many advantages here. This will put thousand of eyes in the air and necessitate only few hundred special ops on the ground, at any one time, in the hot zones to set up ambushes. Most of the drone support structure can be safely located at distance…even here in America. Make this the first war of its kind…a ‘Drone Dominated War’. The Germans used heavy tanks in World War II to easily overrun positions. And, we used many, many more, lighter tanks to take their tanks out. Drones are very light and agile. Can you imagine the horror you impart on the enemy when they have to fight something in the sky that they very often cannot even see? Yes we do, Al Qaeda is scared to death about them!
2) Set up very strong perimeters at major cities and towns…that civilization might thrive and prosper while the taliban enjoy their caves, snow and mud.
3) Carefully recruit and build the Afghan army to defend itself. This will take many years to do right since we have to build their self confidence to do so as well as weed out corruption.
Posted by: ErnestNM | October 7, 2009, 1:02 am 1:02 am
President Obama should do what he knows he has to.. Listen to his military commanders and give them the troops they are requesting. His delays only embolden the enemies resolve to try harder to kill our soldiers quickly and in anyway possible to weaken America’s resolve as a whole. Giving more troops sends a message to the Taliban and Al Queda that we are not afraid to do what we have to rid the world of terrorism and islamic radicals that threaten all nations. It’s time for him to show true leadership and go against his ideals he ran on in the election of troop withdrawals within 6 month time frames and see the situation for what it is.. We are there.. We are committed… Now do what we did not do in Vietnam and give our Generals unfettered access to wage war without the scrutiny political entanglements and agendas. Doing this does not mean he agrees with being there but he can put a plan together to win this new kind of war and bring it to a quicker conclusion with pride and stability for all involved. At the end of the day the only losers will be there terrorist at this stage in the game! The alternative is to cave into fear and political pressure and procreate a false sense security by pulling our troops home without the job being done. Inviting more attacks. Anyone who thinks this is written by a war monger better know I have a brother who is soon to be a deployed Marine. President Obama give them the tools to finish this job in an overwhelming way! This will bring them home them all home sooner!
Posted by: Vega | October 7, 2009, 3:41 am 3:41 am
What did you people expect when you voted for someone with NO EXPERIENCE????
He is a flake.
Posted by: sammy | October 7, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am
This war will not go away easily, nor quickly, and Obama must put pressure to bear on NATO countries, to do their share, in meeting their commitment to improving the situation to the rest of the world, in this religious extremist country.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | October 7, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Republicans are nonsensical in their ideology. Don’t listen since they don’t want to hear! Close the door to Republicans! Republicans started this mess, and Democrats come in and clean up! Thank God for Democrats!
Posted by: Elle | October 7, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
I find it interesting, that the country remains polarized over Dubya, and can’t look at what the Dems are doing, without relating it to Dubya.
It isn’t about the GOP anymore folks. The Dems have been in charge of congress for going on 3 yrs. Let’s get honest.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | October 7, 2009, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
While BO and his BS round table are doing the old soft shoe our soldiers are dying! Get off your a** and make a decision or go back to chicago!
Posted by: lovingpolitics | October 7, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm