Setting aside the question of whether or not the time has come to consider withdrawing from Afghanistan (because that option appears not to be on the list at the moment), the fact that the Obama administration is waiting for a resolution to the election situation before making a specific decision about troop levels is thoroughly reasonable.
Via the NYT: Decision on Afghan Troops May Wait
The signals come as Republican critics already are complaining that the president is taking too long to decide whether to send the additional 40,000 troops requested by his commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal. They argue that Mr. Obama has left the impression of indecisiveness that has only emboldened the Taliban, making the task of the 68,000 American troops already there that much harder.The delay, though, reflects deep uncertainty inside the White House about the prospects of waging a successful war without a partner in Kabul with widespread legitimacy among the Afghan people. A delay could also provide some political space at home for Mr. Obama, whose efforts to pass health care legislation are reaching a climactic moment in Congress, although the White House has denied any relationship between the two issues.
In re: the decisiveness/indecisiveness issue, surely it would be better to have sufficient information to make the decision than simply to make one for the sake of speed, yes?
In re: the politics of the it all, it is difficult to believe that the White House is unaware of the interconnected nature of the various decisions that lay before it at this time.
And a little morning snark: if Bill Kristol thinks that the election results are irrelevant (given his track record on a panoply of issues), then they must be vitally important (see here (scroll down a tad) and here).
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October 19th, 2024 at 11:50 am
you cant defeat hearts and minds with soldiers and guns.a peace process must start with all sides,saudi arabi is the glue that keeps the movement with him,i do not know binladins intentions,neither do i your intention or president obama,but what i do know as an american muslim.is that our support of saudi arabia not having and open election instead of a dictatorship is giving your enemies power,allowing troop replenishment.if peace talks is off the table then the only other way is to call the draft.our troop levels are at a level of breaking holdng on for dear life.soldiers are on 4th tours.russia syria and iran can maintain security.
October 19th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
So, is there a problem in Afghanistan because it is a complex issue, or because of the Bush Administration? This White House seems to do everything it can to not give any credit to the Bush Administration openly while following many of it’s policies.