White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said the White House is not only looking at the question of how many troops are necessary to accomplish the American mission in Afghanistan but also: “Do you have a credible Afghan partner for this process - that can provide the security and the type of services that the Afghan people need?”
“This is a much more complex decision” than just determining the appropriate level of troops, Emanuel told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union.
“It’s clear that basically we had a war [in Afghanistan] for eight years that was going on, that’s adrift,” Emanuel also said, “that we’re beginning at scratch, just at the starting point, after eight years – and that there’s not an [Afghan] security force, an [Afghan] army, and the types of services that are important for the Afghans to become a true partner.”
Echoing comments from Massachusetts Democrat Sen. John Kerry, Emanuel said it would be “reckless to make a decision on U.S. troop levels if, in fact, you haven’t done a thorough analysis of whether, in fact, there’s an Afghan partner ready to fill that space that the U.S. troops would create and become a true partner in governing the Afghan country.”
“There’s a set of questions that have to have answers that have never been asked,” Emanuel said of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan for the last eight years. Emanuel added that Obama won’t be rushed into making a decision without asking the firm questions and challenging the assumptions behind the questions.
With the results of a recent Afghan presidential still unclear because of concerns about election fraud, Emanuel said that now there are two options for resolving the election – either a run-off between the two top candidates or a negotiation between the two.
The end result must be “a legitimate and credible” government that the Afghan people view as valid, Emanuel said.
From CNN Politics
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It's just politics.
It's about time someone asked the questions. Sending troops without knowing the end result will last is stupid. The Afghan gov't must be able to control the situation and must be legit in the eyes if its people.
The US supported Batista in Cuba, the Shah in Iran, Saddam in Iraq AND the Taliban (when fighting Russia)in Afghanistan. We need to stop this blind support and think about who our friends really are.
No More Troops!
It all sounds so official.
How is it that after nine months in office Obama is just now looking at the situation in Afghanistan? Where was he while the Afghan elections were being rigged?
He has plenty of time to campaign.
Something smells like fish.
So sad to hear that the guy that flew Air Force over New York was fired. His pictures are going to be cherished for a long, long time....
Why won"t anyone just say it
The afgan war is the second largest stimulus package we have
80,000 more troops means more jobs at home and congress wont say no
Gotta love it!
After 8 years of a GOP intellectual box of rocks with an action plan of "Ready, Fire!, Aim" we finally have a POTUS that THINKS THING THROUGH first!
Get used to it rethuglicons, no knee jerk "War First" out of this Prez....
Afghan is real mess
Obama should not rush
Whether America admit it or not. Voting for Obama was the most intelligent thing they ever did. This is another reason to legitimately claim that The Democrat is keeping America and their troop safe. Because being reckless and a cowboy like Bush is not the answer. BY THE WAY WHY IS HE NOT SENDING HIS OWN CHILDREN TO HIS WAR THAT HE CREATED IN IRAQ. AND SO IS DICK CHENEY. THAT LYN CHENEY IS ONE COWARD HYPOCRITE. IF SHE'S REALLY IS TOUGH WHY DON'T SHE USED IT ON HER DADDY'S WAR.
you guys give me soooo many reason NOT to watch you. the story
about subject:: emanuel interview. although the interviewer asked
some – SOME – tough questions of emanuel, it's apparant you are
combating the liberal image, the "forming public opinion" face, and
editorial prerogative. i check in on you from time to time. you are
changing, but not enough to secure me any more than before.
further, the piece on wilbon's "opinion" of the limbaugh story. the race
card is sooo tatered. black culture makes me anti black culture.
wilbon is a racist, a bigot, and a self serving black man. pass.
and you guys contribute. do release all you staff – maybe half will
do. thanks for offering me this moment. tom genung
I am sorry, but is this the new talking point this week? It seems we are hearing this "new theme" from several sources. Now the troops have to wait for Obama and the WH to see who or whether this leader who the US manipulated into being chosen as leader in the first place, is credible? This new line of stalling a decision is unbelievable.
SamSixpack . Guess what he's prioritizing what America needs first as of now the economy and health care are the most important thing on the list. Maybe you should be a president and do what he's doing.
AND after 8 years of good ol boy ,shot from the hip deplomancy
..
we now have an administration asking the right questions
what a world we live in " some learn how to ask and others just geat rich on the backs of the people"
thank you Mr.Obama for trying to make it right
FIRE IT UP READY TO GO
Way to go! Obama, solid thinking. never mind crackpots like Failin Palin.
What's obama thinking about – how long will it take to destroy our troops in afghanistan?
SamSixPack: How is it that during eight years leading the Afghani War, pres. Bush never sat down and intelligently and rationally looked at the strategies and resourcing of the war??
How is it that after more than three years screwing up the Iraq war, Bush allowed himself two and a half months to decide on the request before he sent the requested troops to Iraq?
Bomb first and ask questions MAYBE is another flawed policy of the republicans.
There is only ONE ANSWER for the Afghanistan question.
Get the heck out of Afghanistan!
We cannot "win" this war. Winning wars is not possible anymore.
There are enough enemies being born, brought up, and shoved off to fight as teenagers for the Taliban or al Qaeda to last for a hundred years.
Bravo, President Obama! You do something that should be obvious but has not been done in the past: Find out what the situation is and think before you act.
The president is very impressive, standing up against special interest domestically (war profiteers, and the shoot first, ask questions later mentality) and to understand what is going on internationally. He includes the people that are involved and have to carry a responsibility for the development of a better future.
So true, it is and has been “reckless to make a decision on U.S. troop levels if, in fact, you haven’t done a thorough analysis of whether, in fact, there’s an Afghan partner ready to fill that space that the U.S. troops would create and become a true partner in governing the Afghan country.”
Is he saying that the Afgan government is not credible and that therefore American troops must be withdrawn. That is what it sound like.
Obummie is using any excuse in the world to backtrack on yet another campaign promise..."to fight the war of necessity". He can't keep voting "present" on national security issues and domestic issues. We've had enough of his speeches. Do something you spineless commander in chump. Do what you say and say what you mean.
SamSixPack:
If anything smells like fish it's you rethugs smelling your rotting brains.
You need to grow up and accept that conservatives like yourself are too dumb to have any correct answers in worldly affairs. It's just too big for you.
afganistan was meant to be long drawn out profit war the war machine knew iraq would be short term profit you can only pay people not to kill you for so long more troops mean more profit, if afganistan was so important to the area, why aren,t the players in the area india,china.russia, putting in funds,its because they know its about profit
The last administration totally ignored and dropped the ball on the war in Afghanistan and now they are giving advice to this administration on how to handle it!! Kind of ironic and hypocritical isn't it? If they were so smart why didn't they wipe out Al Queda and find Bin Laden during the last seven years? They allowed the Taliban to quietly regroup and Al Queda to spread under the radar and now they are outgraged that Pres. Obama hasn't solved this whole mess that they left for him. Every time a Republican leader or pundit opens his mouth to criticize what this administration is doing on the economy, health care, the wars, etc. I think "Why didn't you do something about it when you were in power?" It is almost funny to hear them talk through the sides of their mouths.
..this is true, obama is asking questions that have never been asked....such as: "...why not supress oposition voices to ensure we can build a stronger perception of support for our agenda......why not shut up all oposition voices and critics and why not start with FOX news?"
he is indeed asking questions that have never been asked.
@terry,va October 18th, 2009 11:24 am ET
Stop listening to Rush and Fox News ......It is a real World out here ...We welcome you to join Us **Now shut your Lying PIE HOLE !!!!
It is not patriotic to expend American blood before Pakistan decides to go "all in" against the safe havens in their country or the Karzai government enacts much needed and promised reforms. Carrot stick. Set up a welfare state of endless american troops and american spilled blood, and neither happens. But faced with their own imminent destruction, Pakistan mounts an offensive, and Karzai delivers.
Hammer-anvil. Pakistani offensive is the hammer. America is the anvil. Timing is everything in love and war.
McCain has it wrong. Or put simply, Vietnam part 2
Lets see here...al quaeda is on the run, Taliban is not ruling the country, Afghani citizens can vote for their president, the country is on the democracy road, women are not oppressed...troops were fighting a winning war...all of this inside of 5 yrs after Sept 11 2001.
Folks, dont take your eyes off the ball here...troops are dying in huge numbers because of this administration's poor judgement and lack of solid decision making. The current admin is trying to use the same tactics from Iraq in Afghanisatn. After the Taliban and ALQ were sent running for the hills (literally), the Afghan war made the turn from conventional to 'winning hearts and minds' war, which is what was needed. Now BHO admin wants to take the Iraq surge template and plop it over Afghanistan? May as well take the Vietnam or Korea template and do the same thing...it is NOT the right one!
The adminstration needs to LISTEN to the commanders on the ground, the senate/house need to give the commanders what they need to let the soldiers, sailors, airman and marines WIN the war, not dabble in it.
And the idea of 'we should just get out' is absurd. This isnt a broken marriage...you cannot just quit it. This is war, people!
Perhaps if the Afghan people would come out from hiding and fight their own war, we could bring our troops home....just saying...
This matter of troop increases been on the table since August, so much for Obama being able to make a simple decision.
Why not do this... declare victory in Afghanistan, pull all the troops out and when the Taliban take control of the nation and make themselves and their whereabouts known to all....bomb the bejesus out of them.
Its sad he will rush on every plan trying to destroy this country and turn us into France. When it come to our boys and girls dieing he wants to wait. Give him more time to fly around and bad mouth his country.
That's because the GOP politicians are too stupid to ask ANY questions.
Yep, he probably asked about sending troops overseas and how it would affect his Nobel Peace Prize. His personal agenda is more important to him and his administration than the good of the country. Time for CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN in 2010 and 2012.
The trouble with the Right Wing is they have no consistent message. One moment they attacking Obama as an indecisive wimp and the next they're declaring him an iron-fisted tyrant! Remember when Bush was in office, any discussion about war fell into two – and only two – categories. Either you stood behind whatever the President did and "Stayed the Course" or, if you so much as questioned the President , you were an unpatriotic treasonous coward who showed weakness and division to our enemies and wanted to "cut and run."
WOW, a commander that wants information, must confuse all that are participating to have an inquisitive mind participating
what a waste and how harmful the last 8 years have been
Amen, 8 plus years in Afghan with no questions asked. It's about time someone start asking question about Karzai and his so called government. We need to know exactly who Karzai is instead of who we want him to be before sending more troops or remaining in the region.
Bring our troops home and send Bush and Cheney . It's their war. Or better yet, send their kids with them.
We should send more troops if the war is winnable when more troops are sent. Sending more troop to maintain a stalemate is not in our best interest. We have been doing that for eight years. We have been fighting this war in Afghanistan without a clear strategy for too long, mainly because the attention of the previous administration was focused on Iraq. We can keep sending troops, but it will not do us any good if there is no strategy or possibility of success and we don't have the support of the Afghan people.
I just noticed something. If George W. Bush shaved his head and was painted black, he would look like Obama's older brother.
the backlash about not sending 40,000 more troops as fast as possible is just the opposition's way of saying they want this administration to make the same mistakes they made – this will make them "feel better" about what they didn't do.
I would like President Obama answer the same questions President Bush never did.
1. What is the objective of the AF conflict?
2. How will we measure progress/lack of progress?
3. What is the exit criteria for success or failure?
The first question, still has not been answered.
What a pile of crap!!! Thios administration would have you believe they are the only one's that have done anything. But look at the record so far and what has been accomplished? The only accomplishment so far is that we now owe more than we as a country have ever owed!!!! This and pushing for health care that his owe people say will increase the amount owed is great accomplishments!!! Have a good couple of years and maybe you can make enough people believe your crap to reelect you. But do it without me!!!!!
Obama campaigned on changing strategy in Afghanistan, so no one should be surprised when he does.
America cannot afford these wars anymore. Its better to fund a larger covert ops program and bring our troops home.
Obama sent over 20,000 troops to Afghanistan in March to cover the holes in Bush's handling of the war there. Enough is enough.
To Enough already....Tell me what I lied about! Obummie said he "was going to fight the war of necessity"'. He is looking to cut and run. He said he would close Gitmo by years end and he has no plan on how to do that, he said pass the stimulus plan and unemployment wouldn't go above 8%, he said he wouldn't raise taxes on those making under $250,000 and his health care plan clearly will tax the middle class, he said he would unite us instead of divide us (polls indicate we have never been more divided...even more than under W.). He is making speeches for the gays but have not done anything other than speak. His speeches are fine but we need action not words!!! He is on the path to one and done and that will be fine with me if he doesn't get a spine.
If Obama commits to more troops in this Afghanistan War, it will become
the end of his great campaign promises to make positive changes right here.
Afghanistan is being governed by a corrupt leaders and we will not find success working with them. It is a black hole and there is NO VICTORY or win in it !
We need to -Nation Build- right here.
The administration planning strategy and evaluating tactics in washington and determining requirements of people on the ground in the battle – just like Vietnam. I'm guessing after lots more dead troops and a retreat with our tail between our legs (like vietnam) somehow clinton and emmanuel will blame this on Bush, too. (read her article this AM if you don't think it is coming). Honesty and transparency in washington... change we can believe in. Right
This is joke. It is their weakness that they cannot listen to their commanders on the ground, What a shame. Rahm Emanuel is covering it up saying they are asking questions which were never asked. He is a joker.
Well while you guys in the White House are trying to not be rushed and have hurt feelings about being asked questions that NEED to be asked.......our Sons and Daughters are dying because they don't have the necessary support they need.
So forgive us if we don't feel sorry for you but you need to either GIVE them the support they need to get the job done and be safe.....or get them out of there NOW!
No more excuses .........enough is enough!
It's nice to see we now have a Commandr in Chief who is competent enough to analyze the situation and ask the tough questions. Maybe if Bush had done a little thinking early on, Obama wouldn't need to be spending his time fixing Bush's mess.
I agree, no more troops. Asking questions is the mark of a person who wants to learn and understand. Bravo, Mr. President! Once the questions have been answered, we can bring our men and women home. Let Afghanis deal with Afghanistan. Ignore them, and place emphasis on home and our security instead. No more ego-tripping; the terrain there is too rough. Let's just leave and ignore them. Let's figure out a way to control heroine addiction at home, so they have no more money for Taliban, al Quaedda, whatever. They'll take care of themselves or blow themselves up .
Little wonder if President Obama is asking questions never before asked, after 8 years of wasted time in Afghanistan when W failed and refused to pursue a real enemy there – in the form of Al Queda and the Taliban – in favor of wasting many times more men and women, equipment, money and other resources where the enemy wasn't – in Iraq – just because he wanted to. Our troops, no matter how egregiously committed by that wastrel, have performed tremendously and without peer. Think how we could have resolved the conflict with those who actually attacked the U.S. if W hadn't wasted the effort. There wouldn't be any need to ask new questions now.
I think Joe Biden said it best. Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11, not the Taliban. There are reliable estimates that there are now only about 100 members of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda is now in Pakistan. Pakistan has a functioning government, that can actually be a partner towards removing Taliban AND Al-Qaeda. Why would we want to send over 100,000 troops to fight the 100 or so Al-Qaeda who are still in Afghanistan, rather than send a lot more support to Pakistan, where Al-Qaeda actually is? Don't you tink we should at least take the time to answer these questions, before moving forward? Why would any person, Democrat, Republican or Independent listen to ANYTHING a neocon says regarding this situation? They created it.
The President is proceeding thoughtfully and cautiously as he should. These are serious decisions.
I don't think a surge would work for any effective time. We are 8 years down the road in Afganistan and we still have never gotten Osama. Pakistan plays all sides and as does Afganistan.
While wasting American blood and money in Iraq to take out Sadaam (if dictators was the aim then Bush should have gone after Kim/No.Korea) more fanatical groups form in the Afgan/Paki region so now the war there has evolved.
There will be no WWII type of win in any conflict yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Since the atomic bomb all issues are "conflicts" and you look for the least damage as a way out. Eisenhower used the DMZ, and Nixon's victory with honor was just sort of us leaving Vietnam, we are slowing withdrawing from Iraq. Add to that the topography of Afganistan makes ground warfare very, very difficult and you can't just use indiscriminate air weapons either.
So the question is not how many troops to send but how to get out with the least damage and most possible gains.
Obama has never walked the walk,but is great on talk. We need a
President that can make decision, now, on a few major problems'
and get it right before the next set of problems on the table. Mr.
President, get your stuff together and get on with our business!
heres a question, how much interaction does obama actually have with his generals because he is clearly dropping the ball on this war.
Now that Obama won Nobel!, sending more troops to Afghanistan would prove unbecoming of Nobel peace prize winner.
I'm glad we no longer have a headstrong, halfwit, trigger happy, cowboy for our President! However, thats only one of very few things i"m glad about right now!