Nov 15, 2009 11:52am
Woodward: Obama Has 32 Issues on the Table for Afghanistan Decision
EmailThis morning on the Roundtable, legendary investigative journalist Bob Woodward provided his unique insight into the complexity of President Obama’s decision-making process on Afghanistan.
Woodward said he’s working on a book on topic and revealed that the President has no fewer than 32 issues on the table that need answers before he can decide how to go forward on Afghanistan.
Watch more fascinating insights from Woodward and the rest of our Roundtable HERE:
- George Stephanopoulos
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I’m surprised it’s only 32. With the lessons of Vietnam resoundingly emphasized by Iraq, I would expect Obama to actually have an exit plan before almost doubling – for the second time in a year – our troops in Afghanistan. If that is the outcome of these deliberations, then he should take all the time he needs. Just throwing bodies at it for another seven years is not acceptable.
Posted by: jhw539 | November 15, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
If he puts Afghanistan in the loss column for the US he might as well not run in 2012. It does not get much simpler than that.
Posted by: Marcus | November 15, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
Only 32, I thought we had more troops there than that!
Posted by: bobp | November 15, 2009, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Wooward’s book “Bush at War” describes the piles of money we used to bribe the Taliban and others in the area for Eight Years. Now, we play innocent and holy and demand their leaders to be “pure as snow”, did we forget already? Early onset Alzheimer’s. They may have taken bribes but we also bribed them. Should we own up to our actions like responsible adults? Or, should be play games while our soldiers die?
Bob Woodward made another important point but nobody followed up on his few words: Pakistan is the problem and we have “no authority” there, he could have said “WE HAVE NO PLANS AND NO SOLDIERS THERE”.
Let’s see, we focus on the minor chaotic lawless unmanageable country and we want Pres. Obama to find a way to solve this EIGHT year old mess.
Sure, I see, do you?
Posted by: Michael F. Sarabia | November 15, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
There was one number, no, not 32, that is the key to the answer: One American soldier in Afghanistan is there at a cost of ONE MILLION Dollars Per YEAR.
Now, where are all those that want to send 100,000 troops to Afghanistan?
Who wants to send 40,000 at a price of 40 Billion a year? In three years this could eat up the cost of starting Health Care for All Americans.
Now, again, raise your hands, how many want to spend the money putting at risk there and depriving the health of the Americans here? Wow! Do we know what we are getting into? Are we really that dumb? At least, Pres. Bush and Chaney were able to convince many that our nation was at risk. When will Cheerleaders star cheering us on?
Where is Sarah, when we need her?
Posted by: Michael F. Sarabia | November 15, 2009, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
Hillary Clinton recently,offered Taliban fighters money to switch sides.
Obama needs to make a decision about AFghanistan and Iraq.
Where are the war protesters now !!
Posted by: CW | November 15, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
I watched that show. I seem to recall mentioned that it costs $1,000,000 per soldier per year to be in Afghanistan. In view of this bad economy and more urgent needs at home, I wonder what those conservatives calling for more soldiers to go to Afghanistan think of that number. Isn’t that expenditure?
I’m with Powel; take your time and get it right!
Insist on finding that “Off Ramp”! It’s never too late to do the right thing.
Buck up people! Be the best Americans you can be!
Posted by: BoltLatch | November 15, 2009, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
i dont know where to send this issue but pllllllllease please please please ABC do not repeat do not do not pull george from THIS WEEK..since tim russert died, i, and many of my friends only watch George..please don’t cheapen a real news man with great great interview techniques, by putting him on the Morning Show and relegated to balloon boy interviews.pleeeeeeeeeeese..
Posted by: jhcp | November 15, 2009, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
Mr. Woodward makes round on TV shows to promote his book. Last time he did was six moths prior to 2004 election, essentially endorsing GW for the second term. We all know the consequences of the second term: more of the same driving the country in deeper hole. It is sad that George does get this insight.
Posted by: vpcam50 | November 15, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
President Obama has appropriately ratched-up the dialogue with Asian nations with regard to trade. Interestingly, Secretary-of-State Clinton has amplified emerging administration policy to demand more progress from Karzai and support from other world “partners” for the war in Afghanistan. After Afghanistan itself, the nation in the most peril of a U.S. reduction in force in Afghanistan is INDIA! If the U.S. were to leave the region Pakistan would become overrun by Taliban insurgency with Al-Qaeda overtones. Pakistan has the bomb. President Obama and Secretary-of-State Clinton need to think “out-of-the-box” about Indian involement in this conflict. While U.S. technology is constantly being exported to India there is no evidence that this nation of 1.5billion needs to step up to the conflict on its back doorstep.
Posted by: Fred G. Borns | November 16, 2009, 12:01 am 12:01 am
Back when the first new and improved plan was devised, I imagine many of these 32 issues were discussed. Typically there is more than 1 plan knowing in war there are just so many variables that can change in a heartbeat. So he scurried through that deliberating process, but now the process is more complicated? Maybe they devised a plan before they had the facts? Maybe the plan was a bad one. Maybe the plan just needs reinforcement? Maybe there are just too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
Posted by: Kristin | November 16, 2009, 3:57 am 3:57 am
Dither,dither,dither.If you are not going to back the US troops tell them so and pull them out.
Posted by: Johnny L | November 16, 2009, 8:38 am 8:38 am
The US has had a habit of enlisting “leaders” in these situations, who are basically the kinds of people who would sell their own mother for a nickle.
No wonder they have a “corruption” problem, with Karzai.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 16, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
I thought he was the guy that bragged he could ‘Multi-task” what a two face-er.
Posted by: GripperDon | November 16, 2009, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm
George,
For two weeks now we have had to watch dems and reps sit at your table and act like children. You should make a major point by sending one side to its room and making the other go sit in the corner.
That would be your best show ever.
Posted by: Mike Wolfington | November 22, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm