... and Obama still hasn't made a decision. 76 days since request for more troops, Obama accused of stalling - Times Online

Seriously, WTF?

Hiding from this won't make it go away. Obama needs to step up and make a decision, one way or the other.

Time to do your job, Mr. President. Good men and women are dying while you dither.

U.S. decision can't wait for Afghan legitimacy: Gates | Reuters

__________________

yea now we need to know if ali babba no.1 or 2 will be in office before we commit......hes floundering Matt. This is the VERY first, direct, real decision he and his 2 henchmen cum advertising agents have to make that they cannot in any way shape of form slough off on Bush.
And because he botched the Health Care bill he needs the anti war lefty’s to pipe down , they won’t, if he commits 40K, plus the depth of this alone is probably making his head explode, this isn’t some soup kitchen on the south side of Chicago, there isn't anyone to bedazzle in this gig, its gut check time.

__________________

"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

he's been BUSY dammit ! Its not like he's just screwing around !

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

15 July 2008:

"Our troops and our NATO allies are performing heroically in Afghanistan, but I have argued for years that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq. That's what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier this month. And that's why, as President, I will make the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win."

New York Times, 11 October 2009:

President Obama's national security team is moving to reframe its war strategy by emphasizing the campaign against Al Qaeda in Pakistan while arguing that the Taliban in Afghanistan do not pose a direct threat to the United States, officials said Wednesday.

And should anybody be surprised? I have spent the last 6 months sitting in a country he does not support, operating a weapons system he says does not work, protecting them against a country he says is not a threat.

It seems to me that an important decision such as this merits taking some amount of time.

After all, we've been in Afghanistan for about 8 years now. This decision to make a troop increase has been pending for what? 2 months?

Also, the elections legitimately weigh in to this decision. The outcome is not yet known and the strategy...even McChristol's strategy could need adjustment. We are sticking it out in large force in Iraq mainly to ensure that things are stable after the 2010 elections there....The Afghan election outcome is just as crucial.

The governing body and the extent to which it's seen as the native people's own (and not just an extension of our power) is important. We need to get there both in Iraq and Afghanistan....and if it's just not going to happen, it may be wiser to leave.

In the end, the premium is on the correct decision, not the faster one.

__________________

The world could use more Stan Ovshinsky's

But what if the so called correct decision comes to late?

Would it still be the Correct Decision?

__________________
Government Should Fear the People That Voted Them In!!

New Government=one that the President likes a GOP idea but then the Staff puts that Idea in a very DEEP HOLE.

Read HR143 get enlightment.

The Revolution Will not be Televised

its not like this is some ten year plan that cannot be adjusted. factors change all the time and all mentioned were in the mix already.

this is noting more than him being unable to get a clear direction of where the political winds here are blowing relative to his wanning political capital.

and thats the wrong reason to not act.

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

What impending timeline are we dealing with?

Is a Fall of Saigon scenario upon us?


IMO..no. We've held the fort for 8 years and though McChristol is anxious to do a full-fledged clear, hold, build, we are not under threat of being overrun.

__________________

The world could use more Stan Ovshinsky's

Scout.... we WERE overrun the other day. One outpost yes, but do you not believe others are at risk ?

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

uhm no, its been pondered for 8 months since McKiernan was sacked.

__________________

"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

No, but as clearly has been shown here, the hand-wringers and Obama-haters need something to whine and complain about.

I've heard of attacks...but I was unaware we were overrun. Care to point it out or expound?


Well, the way we have been taking casualties in short scuffles is because we are dispersed into small outposts. The Taliban try to overwhelm the small outposts with numbers and sometimes they are successful. But even when they are, it does not represent an existential tactical threat.

You do realize why McChristol wants additional forces, don't you? He wants to cover more area. Which doesn't address the problem of having small vulnerable outposts....there would just be more of them.

__________________

The world could use more Stan Ovshinsky's

A lot of people don't do anything when they don't know what to do. This is Obama's first lose-lose situation and he's frozen stiff.

__________________
Want government run healthcare? Join the military.

the recent one

one before that

another one in 08 (NATO)

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand