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Administration Sources: President Obama Weighing Four Strategic Options for Af/Pak*
November 10, 2009 7:07 AM
Senior administration officials tell ABC News that President Obama at his war council meeting tomorrow will assess four different specific strategies for Afghanistan and Pakistan, including two different options put forward by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
At his meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, October 30, President Obama asked Pentagon officials to assess in detail two other strategy options, including the missions, troop requirements and cost.
All four options increase the levels of US troops in Afghanistan. The president has not yet been presented with those new assessments.
All four options will be discussed in detail when the Joint Chiefs and other senior officials meet with the President tomorrow.
In an exclusive TV interview with ABC News on Monday, President Obama was asked what variables would play into his decision-making that would cause him to not just take McChystal’s recommendation and implement it.
The President said that he’s talking to a wide variety of people, both commanders and civilians, to get the best possible picture of the situation.
“I've been asking not only General McChrystal, but all of our commanders who are familiar with the situation, as well as our civilian folks on the ground, a lot of questions that, until they're answered, may -- may create a situation in which we resource something based on faulty premises,” Mr. Obama said, “And I want to make sure that we have tested all the assumptions that we're making before we send young men and women into harm's way, that if we are sending additional troops that the prospects of a functioning Afghan government are enhanced, that the prospects of al Qaeda being able to attack the U.S. Homeland are reduced.”
His obligation, the President said, is to make sure that “whatever investments we make are leading to a safer United States, are sustainable.”
“There are a whole host of those questions that we have worked through systematically. I have gained confidence that there's not an important question out there that has not been asked and that we haven't asked -- that we haven't answered to the best of our abilities. And as a consequence of the process that we've gone to, I feel much more confident that when I issue my orders, that not only do we have a better prospect of success and we are serving our men and women in uniform well, but that we are not also looking at an indefinite stay in -- where we have bought, essentially, a -- a permanent protectorate of Afghanistan that I think would be unsustainable.”
The White House is pushing back against reports that he has made any decision as of yet. An announcement of his final decision is expected after he returns from a week long visit to four Asian countries on November 19.
-- jpt
*This post has been clarified with new information from White House sources.
November 10, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (74)
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"It took Bush and Cheney 7 years to prepare a strategy on Afghanistan - 7 years."
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You understand how long 7 years is right Dan?
You understand that letting Afghanistan simmer on the back burner for 7 years effectively allowed the Taliban and al Qaeda to regroup? You understand this has had serious consequences for our troops and the Afghani people?
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 9:23:38 PM
Doesn't matter how you try to spin it.
George W. Bush did not serve in Vietnam. Neither did Cheney.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:13:39 PM
Not spinning anything. Just keeping the uninformed informed.
"when he was younger and not employed anywhere, passed up his chance for a lovely, moving romantic fling with danger in the jungles of Southeast Asia."
Posted by: Alyson | Nov 7, 2009 9:42:29 PM
Alyson is incorrect....
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | Nov 10, 2009 3:44:57 PM
Ha!
Gotta love that your is Bernard "the dictionary is liberal" Golderg. The man is bold-faced liar who shows utter contempt for his readers' google skills. Try googling this from the New York Observer: "Bernard Goldberg's lost fact about Mary Mapes had already been revealed publicly by... Mary Mapes, Felix Gillette:
"Before Bernard Goldberg gets any more excited about the "secret" revelations on page 130 of the 2005 Boccardi-Thornburgh report, he should really check out another page in the whole Dan Rather vs. CBS vs. President Bush saga.
Mr. Goldberg, please turn your attention to page 65 of Truth and Duty, by Mary Mapes."
In any event, my wording was off in an effort to cut to the chase. Because you all require such precision when talking about Republican politicians (but never Dems, quite the opposite), let me rephrase for you--
"when he was younger and not employed anywhere, allegedly volunteered for a chance for a lovely, moving romantic fling with danger in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but didn't press the point despite being well-connected and the need for soldiers. In fact,after receiving $1 million worth of free government flight training as member of Texas Air National Guard, pilot George Bush diappeared from his Guard duty in April 1972. From that point until he was discharged almost two years later, Bush went unsupervised. He refused to take a mandatory physical. He failed to show up for mandatory training sessions. He tried to transfer to a unit in Alabama that had NO airplanes. "
Feel better?
The fact remains he didn't serve in Viet Nam, and IMHO ( and not just MY opinion) his remarks were incredibly, incredibly tone-deaf. They stunned me, and trust me, I never ever expected much, though I did pray often for him. And the country.
Posted by: Allycat 521 (Alyson) | Nov 10, 2009 8:53:37 PM
"It took Bush and Cheney 7 years to prepare a strategy on Afghanistan - 7 years. They prepared it in the fall of 2008 just in time to get booted out of office. Try to put the 6 weeks into perspective."
Oh! You mean the one and only plan that President Obama and Rhame Emmanuel adopted as their own!
The one that lead to them "Hiring" General McCrystal to expedite the JUST war. The one that needs 40 thousand additional troops to WIN.
That Plan?
ONE YEAR OLD?
Posted by: Veteran Dan | Nov 10, 2009 8:03:18 PM
Twice in the last 3 years Charlie Rangel advocated reinstating the draft!
Go for it Charlie! Third time's a charm.
Posted by: Veteran Dan | Nov 10, 2009 7:23:06 PM
President Obama did not volenteer for military service during peace time or war.
It is 6 weeks since the commander on the ground asked for troop support. THE commander hand picked by President Obama.
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Both George W. Bush and Cheney managed to not serve in Vietnam even though there was a DRAFT in place forcing many Americans to do just that.
It took Bush and Cheney 7 years to prepare a strategy on Afghanistan - 7 years. They prepared it in the fall of 2008 just in time to get booted out of office. Try to put the 6 weeks into perspective.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 6:58:42 PM
The FACT remains, that Bush is no longer in office.
President Obama did not volenteer for military service during peace time or war.
It is 6 weeks since the commander on the ground asked for troop support. THE commander hand picked by President Obama.
Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, wouldn't it be grand if Our Commander-In-Chief made an American life saving decission!
Send in the troops!
God Bless America!
God Bless our Troops!
God Bless our Veterans!
God Bless President Barrack Hussan Obama.
Posted by: Veteran Dan | Nov 10, 2009 6:22:45 PM
Alyson is incorrect. The fact is "George W. Bush, the alleged slacker, had in fact volunteered to go to Vietnam."
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You've got one unsubstantiated source claiming that. In the field of LEGITIMATE research into history, that is very, very weak.
The FACT remains neither George W. Bush nor Cheney served in Vietnam.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 4:08:17 PM
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | Nov 10, 2009 2:12:04 PM
Doesn't matter how you try to spin it.
George W. Bush did not serve in Vietnam. Neither did Cheney.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:13:39 PM
Not spinning anything. Just keeping the uninformed informed.
"when he was younger and not employed anywhere, passed up his chance for a lovely, moving romantic fling with danger in the jungles of Southeast Asia."
Posted by: Alyson | Nov 7, 2009 9:42:29 PM
Alyson is incorrect. The fact is "George W. Bush, the alleged slacker, had in fact volunteered to go to Vietnam."
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | Nov 10, 2009 3:44:57 PM
But I trust my own common sense and I don't feel right on most of OBAMA's policies.
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That of course is your privilege, however you put yourself a bit out of the mainstream of people in the United States.
The two Congressional wins in the recent elections confirm that people voted to support the Democrats and their policies in Congress.
And with President Obama's approval rating currently at 54% during very hard economic times and the country in 2 very difficult wars . . . the majority of the country is behind this man.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:55:04 PM
I don't care about the poll numbers. It varies from poll to poll. But I trust my own common sense and I don't feel right on most of OBAMA's policies.
I wonder if his muslim background (dont forget he lived in a muslim nation of Indonesia for 6 years) will have some effects on his decision to Afghanistan.
Posted by: talk from sf | Nov 10, 2009 2:47:09 PM
"Bush was at 51% (Gallup) in the week just before 9/11."
Exactly what are we to conclude from that fact? Do you find it comforting, or disturbing?
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With President Obama currently at 54% approval in very hard economic times and the country in 2 very difficult wars . . . and Bush down at 51% (just before 9/11) with nothing anywhere near that difficult on his plate, I conclude the current President is doing very well in terms of public approval.
The two Congressional wins in the recent elections confirm that people voted to support the Democrats and their policies in Congress.
The right wing is way out of the mainstream of America.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:43:16 PM
Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-two percent (52%) disapprove.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 10, 2009 2:38:08 PM
"Bush was at 51% (Gallup) in the week just before 9/11."
Exactly what are we to conclude from that fact? Do you find it comforting, or disturbing?
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 10, 2009 2:37:25 PM
Bush did not serve in Vietnam, but he served as a fighter pilot during that war. He joined the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group of the Texas Air National Guard on May 27, 1968, during the Vietnam War. He committed to serve until May 26, 1974, with two years on active duty while training to fly and four years on part-time duty.
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Yes, as I said . . . neither George W. Bush or Cheney served in Vietnam. Spin it as you will . . ..
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:37:24 PM
Bush did not serve in Vietnam, but he served as a fighter pilot during that war. He joined the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group of the Texas Air National Guard on May 27, 1968, during the Vietnam War. He committed to serve until May 26, 1974, with two years on active duty while training to fly and four years on part-time duty.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 10, 2009 2:35:51 PM
"Gee Fascist, you didn't post that Gallup has President Obama's approval up another point to 54% today."
Bush was at 51% (Gallup) in the week just before 9/11.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:24:25 PM
"If we don't act immediately ... the national unemployment rate will approach double digits."
--Barack Hussein Obama, February, 2009
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 10, 2009 2:22:28 PM
"Experts agree that if nothing is done, the unemployment rate could reach double digits."
--Barack Hussein Obama, January 24, 2009
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 10, 2009 2:20:58 PM
"Gee Fascist, you didn't post that Gallup has President Obama's approval up another point to 54% today."
That's all adults. Among voters he's a shade under 50%.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 10, 2009 2:18:41 PM
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | Nov 10, 2009 2:12:04 PM
Doesn't matter how you try to spin it.
George W. Bush did not serve in Vietnam. Neither did Cheney.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 10, 2009 2:13:39 PM
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