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