Nov 15, 2009 1:30pm
Official: ‘Sense’ is President Obama Has ‘Pretty Much Decided’ on Af-Pak Strategy
EmailSHANGHAI — A senior administration official told some reporters in Singapore that his "sense" is that President Obama has "pretty much decided" on which Af-Pak strategy he will pick but hasn't yet made a firm decision and is still working out details.
The official said his sense was the President's chosen strategy isn't going to be everything the Pentagon wants.
The White House is discussing how to roll out the announcement, whenever it's final.
-jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
We should know for sure by when… February? March?
Posted by: Thank God for Karma | November 15, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
It’s certainly easy to blame and complain about the prior administration but geez these decisions are difficult aren’t they?
Posted by: wow | November 15, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
It’s certainly easy to blame and complain about the prior administration
Posted by: wow
it’s easy because of their lack of ‘results’, criminal activity and generalized malfeasance and near destruction of America…..
other than that what’s there to criticize
Posted by: YO | November 15, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
Slurring the prior administration isn’t making this administrations decisions any more palatable.
Obama is faced with many difficult decisions…so far his administration has made numerous bad ones.
I hope his judgment on Afghanistan is wise. We don’t want the next generation still fighting this war.
Posted by: wow | November 15, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
“his “sense” is that President Obama has “pretty much decided” on which Af-Pak strategy he will pick but hasn’t yet made a firm decision and is still working out details.”
Jake – isn’t this kind of “news” more appropriate to a random twitter musing? Not only is it yet another anonymous source in a parade of them that have been contradictory or out right wrong, but it ISN’T SAYING ANYTHING.
My sense is that you have pretty much decided what to write tomorrow, but you haven’t made a firm decision and have yet to work out the details.
You know English. This posting is less newsworthy than what my auto mechanic Cheech thinks about tariff policy with regards to tire imports and the trade war implications.
Posted by: jhw539 | November 15, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
How long did it take Obama to come around and accept that the surge worked in Iraq? Assuming, of course, that he has even done so yet.
By comparison, current “deliberation” by Obama on Afghanistan has proceeded with blazing speed.
After all, it’s only been, what, three months since the general provided his assessment and recommendation — and Obama is already putting out anonymous leaks that he has a “sense” of what he is going to do. Or, at least a “sense” of what he might do. Someday. After he returns from his latest tour.
At the earliest. But that could change.
Meanwhile, count him present.
Posted by: TParty4USA | November 15, 2009, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
After all, it’s only been, what, three months since the general provided his assessment and recommendation — TParty4USA | Nov 15, 2009 3:41:13 PM
An assessment that included no exit strategy, no consideration of the Pakistan situation, no estimate of the value of the operation, no consideration of whether there is any value to the US – nothing beyond the general’s job of winning the battle. The President’s job is to look at the whole strategy and US interests pictures, not just go from the gut, stay the course, and show up for photo ops.
Posted by: jhw539 | November 15, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
And now this:
The New York Times’s Gretchen Morgenson points out that lobbyists have won another victory that will lead to billions in taxpayer dollars being handed over to firms that helped spur the economic crisis.
The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which President Obama just signed into law, contains “a tax break that lets big companies offset losses incurred in 2008 and 2009 against profits booked as far back as 2004,” Morgenson reports.
Jake, why no report on this.
Posted by: abc is going down the tubes | November 15, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
“How long did it take Obama to come around and accept that the surge worked in Iraq? Assuming, of course, that he has even done so yet.”
This is true and truly frightening…
dither, dither, dither…
Posted by: Krakatoa | November 15, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Wasn’t it March when Obama announced a new Afghan policy where we sent in 20,000 troops and a new commander?
I thought the new general was supposed to “win” this war that was deemed by Obama as essential to our national defense. Now we are looking for the “exit” strategy. Can we have a date when all the troops will leave as Obama requested for Iraq?
As for no consideration of the Pakistan situation, how the hell do you know what was in the report? So far as I know, the Pakistan situation was covered in depth which is why the troops are being pulled back from the border.
Posted by: Oops | November 15, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
How long did it take Obama to come around and accept that the surge worked in Iraq? Assuming, of course, that he has even done so yet.
TParty4USA | Nov 15, 2009 3:41:13 PM
How many YEARS did it take the Republican administration to finally stop, assess and put in place the right strategy? How many thousands of our troops lives and hundreds of billions of dollars would have been saved if Bush had “dithered” a few months and did proper planning in 2002 rather than going from the gut and feeding our troops into the meat grinder without a second thought for half a decade?
Posted by: jhw539 | November 15, 2009, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
“Feeding our troops into the meatgrinder”???
If anything history has shown we didn’t put in enough troops and the commanders in charge of the operation asked for too few troops.
The military counterinsurgency doctrine states we would need over 100k of troops to win. The commander in the field, his boss, Petraus, the Joint Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the head of the defence dept AND our NATO allies have concluded we needed 80k to win and 40k not to lose. Obama wants to provide less than 40k for POLITICAL reasons ONLY.
How fast can we run away?
Posted by: Oops | November 15, 2009, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
“How many thousands of our troops lives and hundreds of billions of dollars would have been saved if Bush had “dithered” a few months and did proper planning in 2002 rather than going from the gut and feeding our troops into the meat grinder without a second thought for half a decade?”
That comment displays (1) a completely erroneous view of how war works, and (2) a perfect example of why the US will never really be able to win a war again. Uneducated, reactionary public. We’ll always have our hands tied behind our back because of hysterical hand-wringing like this.
Posted by: CH | November 15, 2009, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
If anything history has shown we didn’t put in enough troops and the commanders in charge of the operation asked for too few troops.
Oops | Nov 15, 2009 8:38:18 PM
It is documented that the commanders who said more troops were needed were pushed out – the buck stops with the commander in chief. If Bush had “dithered” and actually performed a comprehensive review – and LISTENED to what they said, even when he didn’t agree – we would have had more troops years before the surge was finally tried as a last resort.
Again, I support Obama ‘dithering’ for a few months rather than rushing foolishly into a decade long quagmire.
Posted by: jhw539 | November 15, 2009, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Bush called not only the commander in Iraq EVERY day but also a lower level commander in the field down to the company level to get their assessment. Compare that to Obama calling his commander in Afgan ONCE in 6 months and NO lower level commander. Who listens?
Obama has received advice from every military commander, every ambassador, all his NATO allies, waited for the Afghan election, and most important of all, all his POLITICAL advisors and has yet to make a decision.
But he has found time for date night, Wednesday party nights and regular golfing dates every 2-3 days.
He also spent a large amount of time trying to get Corzine re-elected, unsuccessfully as it turns out.
What is he waiting for as our troops die and our commanders say they need more help?
Perhaps waiting for results from his “political” negotiation with the Taliban?
Posted by: Oops | November 15, 2009, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
jwh, Are you saying the a Dem actually recommended an INCREASE in troops? How about Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Clinton all saying the surge would be a DISASTER? All after LISTENING to the recommendation of Petraus and seeing the results many Dems to this day have not admitted they were wrong.
Posted by: Oops | November 15, 2009, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
But he has found time for date night, Wednesday party nights and regular golfing dates every 2-3 days.
________________________________
First of all, the golf thing (every 2-3 days) is completely false. You destroy your credibility with that kind of nonsense.
Second, you refer to George Bush in your post while criticizing Obama – Bush took more holidays than any other President in history; so a really bad comparison to use in the same post.
In fact, Bush was just returning from a 3-week vacation in Texas when he was caught completely off-guard by 9/11.
So again, a pretty poor example to use.
You also know Bush and Cheney left Afghanistan to simmer on the back burner for 7 years while al Qaeda and the Taliban regrouped – with serious consequences for our troops.
Posted by: tierra | November 15, 2009, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
” Bush… completely off guard by 9/11″-just like Obama was caught off guard by Ft. Hood. I haven’t seen a megaphone moment from Mr. Obama; he ouldn’t even make up his mind to visit the post until after Mr. Bush went.
Posted by: Nephron | November 15, 2009, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
Did Obama get rid of that yes, no maybe painting in the WH….cause that’s his problem here….get him one of those eight balls that you shake.
Posted by: mjishernameo | November 15, 2009, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Once again, Obamabots don’t answer any questions, just hurl accusations.
When will Obama make an Afghan decision? What is he waiting for? He has been told all the facts. He doesn’t like the answers. Boo hoo.
What is he waiting for?
He was waiting for the “official” report from the Afghan commander. Done. Then waited for Defense Dept input. Done. Then waited for input from NATO. Done. Waited for series of meetings with political/diplomatic groups. Done.
Waited for Afghan elections. Done.
All of the things he said he was waiting for have been provided. Yet no decision is in sight.
Why? Politically it may hurt his base to go with the Allies/Military/Diplomatic recommendation.
So, for political reasons, troops die. Troops no longer know what their mission is or will be. Morale suffers.
Way to go Obama!
Posted by: Oops | November 15, 2009, 11:41 pm 11:41 pm
Bush… completely off guard by 9/11″-just like Obama was caught off guard by Ft. Hood.
Posted by: Nephron
of course the difference is that Bush was presented a PDB stating attack was imminent
btw: if you really want to delve, wasn’t the Ft. Hood shooter already in the military while Bush was president…… how come he didn’t know about him?
Bush/Cheney: keeping America safe?; 0 for 2
Posted by: YO | November 16, 2009, 12:43 am 12:43 am
Bush called not only the commander in Iraq EVERY day but also a lower level commander in the field down to the company level to get their assessment.
Posted by: Oops
‘very impressive’, too bad there was no reason to invade Iraq, but hey, Bush spoke to God to get an OK for getting americans killed..
I always loved the line, ‘major combat is over’,
as the battles raged on
Mission Accomplished
Posted by: PO'd | November 16, 2009, 12:50 am 12:50 am
PO, YO and Octavia, When will Obama make his decision? What is he waiting for now?
Everything he said he needed to make a decision has been done. What now?
Posted by: Oops | November 16, 2009, 1:53 am 1:53 am
Perhaps BHO will make his decision right after he chooses which church to start attending again. Has Rev Wright set up shop in DC?
Posted by: Oops | November 16, 2009, 1:58 am 1:58 am
When will Obama make his decision?
Posted by: Oops
when he is ready…
I am amazed with the impatience of the ‘right wing’ who want definitive solutions to Afghanistan in less than 1 year, after 8+ years of neglect from Bush & Cheney. It is that very kind of short sighted ‘gut’ thinking which led to the Iraq fiasco and the neglect of the American military in Afghanistan by Bush/Cheney.
you all seem to voice this constant ‘concern’ for the troops,.. this year….. but were silent for the previous 8 years…… why?
Posted by: PO'd | November 16, 2009, 2:11 am 2:11 am
Perhaps BHO will make his decision right after he chooses which church to start attending again
Posted by: Oops
funny…., but the fraud religious appeal of folks like the republican/conservative christians of the ‘C Street’ cabal certainly clarify the ‘right wing’ along with Sanford, Vitter, Palin and the witchdoctor…Gingrich and the rest
Posted by: PO'd | November 16, 2009, 2:19 am 2:19 am
The request for additional troops in Afghanistan sat on Bush’s desk for 8 months – and no action was taken.
Why? Because they knew it was a difficult decision, and they decided instead of manning up and making it, they’d wait until after the election.
You know, in case things went badly, it would once again remind Americans just how incompetent they were. It would have reflected badly on them, then-candidate McCain and the GOP in general.
Lovely, wasn’t it, the way Bush played politics with our soldiers’ lives?
Posted by: dose of reality | November 16, 2009, 2:42 am 2:42 am
The commander BHO picked for Afghan stated the war will be lost within 1 year if he doesn’t receive 40k troops soon. BHO doesn’t have 8 years to decide.
BHO has stated in March he had a policy AND strategy that he was implementing in Afghan. 3 months ago BHO announced he doesn’t have a clue as to what he may do in Afghan. Today he is still dithering, undecided and clueless as to what to do after all the facts have been given.
As to religion, CNN reported of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) reaching for the stars while addressing an evangelical congregation in South Carolina:
“We’re going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth.”
Just think what would happen if ANY Rep said that…
Posted by: Oops | November 16, 2009, 2:47 am 2:47 am
Just think what would happen if ANY Rep said that…
you mean like often repeated ‘America is a christian nation’ complete with faulty ‘founder’ attributions?..
Posted by: PO'd | November 16, 2009, 3:14 am 3:14 am
CNN reported
Posted by: Oops
uh oh, right wingers quoting CNN….
the apocalypse is near
Posted by: PO'd | November 16, 2009, 3:16 am 3:16 am
Obama being in office was accomplished via a major sham. I’ve talked to some who voted for him who have buyer’s remorse. He won’t win Va again either. He has no leadership skills and shows it time and time again. He is working a long con on the troop decision. He is just stringing the public along. He will probably send few if any reinforcements. He will betray US and New Yorkers in particular if he pulls out of Afgh b/c they will regroup and attack NY again. His speech in Japan was like a stoner on a job interview. He was either on something, inept or both.
Posted by: stryker | November 16, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am
I get the “sense” that Obama is, and
will remain, clueless. A change of
Congress in 2010 makes more sense
every day.
Posted by: grizzlybare | November 16, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
now that you’ve spent hours rehashing the past, and playing the blame game. I repeat…
Slurring the prior administration isn’t making this administrations decisions any more palatable.
Obama is faced with many difficult decisions…so far his administration has made numerous bad ones.
I hope his judgment on Afghanistan is wise. We don’t want the next generation still fighting this war.
Our troops deserve the best, lets HOPE for it.
Posted by: wow | November 16, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
ohbummer.
Posted by: gatorsnc81 | November 16, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm