CNN

War decisions made by focus groups and/or George Soros is no way to make foreign policy decisions.

No,

but he is taking too long on allowing the Justice dept.
to arrest Dick Cheney and George Bush on statring an illegal war and they beare all the responsibility for all the bitter , awful fruit that has come from the that Lie.

Peace, Begins with Justice, Healing begins when this is recognized.

We The People, were Horribly duped.

To obama it is all about what he thinks will make him look good.
In his mind he is stalling until if is to his advantage, to hell with the troops. He will most likely send most of the 40,000.

Obama Promise to end the WAR, when his going to deliver any of his promise?

It is quite simple. He hates America and he hates the American military. That is why he is trying to change America into Europe. Peace through strength. That is what America has always been.

Absolutely not, please take longer, there's no hurry at all!

Every day he delays...could be costing an American life !

Amazing.... conservatives have been asking for action by this President since early September, and only now does CNN get around to a poll like this? This President's indecision reflects his incompetence, and is sending a very hopeful message to the Taliban.

Maybe he wants to get it right, get all the information and not go off half witted like our previous president did. Had the first one used his head, Afghanistan may not be in the shape it is now.
A good decision no matter how long it takes, is better than shooting from the hip, and hitting the wrong target!!

Odumbo wants someone else to make the decesion so he can keep his name clear in case this doesnt work or if it does then he can take full credit.
So much for the 3am phone call that Odumbo said he could handle.
This guy is a tool!

Another one of these useless polls...I would rather considerable thought be put into where we go there instead of a rush to send more troops to accomplish what mission???

The american public should demand that enough troops and equipment be sent to win this war with and against bin Ladin.

If this is not done Obama should vacate the white house and let someone else clean up his mess...

It's rough to make a decision especially when you don't know what you are doing.

The President should take as long as needed. We have been there for 8 years without much to show for it, except a corrupt puppet government and our troops being the common enemy for the Taliban and Al Qeada. As a former Marine 1981-1993 I want a Commander in Chief who is thoughtful when it comes to putting America's military in harms way. The prior administration was quick to get in without a clear mission or exit strategy, and what do we have to show for it? There is no victory or honor in continuing to beat our heads against the rock that is Afghanistan. There are other entities, NATO, Peace Corp, Army Corps of Engineers or private contractors who can build schools, hospitals and infastructure. Let Afghans protect Afghanistan.

Obama needs to take his time and make the decision. Delaying won't help or hurt him politically. Everyone knows that he is going to send the 40,000 additional troops in the end. I think that he will do the right thing. I wish he would be more vocal about Islamic extremism and the war on terrorism. Until we have an honest discussion we can effectively deal with these terrorists.

The President is doing what he should do, take is time ,by determining the exact mission and the method to accomplish it, he should continue to not be concern with the ranting and raging of the same jerks most of whom are draft dodgers who saw imaginary weapons of mass destruction in Iraq lead blindly with no mission or plan ,just bomb them and shoot them. Just the dumb insight that has cause the lost of countless young solders lives and the heartache of countless families. The President has been in office not quite a year, yet the haters want overnight results but offer no critique or compaint for the administration who had eight years to accomplish the same mission.

Soldiers are dying everyday......Pee or get off the pot, Mr. President.

He's in the midst of discovering that actually governing is a lot harder than reading a teleprompter - which is the only thing he is really good at. If his other actions are any indicators, perhaps his indecisiveness is just as well as he will probably screw up this decision, too.

Why the rush to make a judgement? There is no need for a quick decision since the winter months will curtail action on the battlefield. Where were the GOP critics when Bush ignored Afghanistan for 7 years to concentrate on the Iraq war? Are the same GOP sunshine patriots so willing to criticize ready to pay more taxes (40 Billion dollars) for the troop buildup?

Yeah, he's waiting until it will serve him best politically. In the meantime, our troops suffer in harms way. Obviously, he can't handle the economy and obviously he is indecisive as commander in chief. Time is up. He should resign or be impeached.

hey CNN how long is to long .. stop being so judgmental and give the man some space .. he has a lot on his plate most given to him by the republicans and dicky cheney,karl rove administration

Um, Um, Um, dither, dither, dither.....................yes! Voting "present" was easier than having to make a decision, don't pressure the great one, he isn't used to all this responsibility.............can't he just continue to blame Bush for all his experience gaps and failed experiments?

Well, he's only had 2 1/2 years to think about it and he certainly had all of the answers on the campaign trail. Either give them what they want to pull them out.

I actually don't mind that President Obama is actually deliberating about such an important decision. It is a refreshing change.

That is funny. Its polling that's keeping Obama from making a decision. Commander in chief whatever.

With the wingnuts, it won't matter, because they will condemn the president no matter what. I got an e-mail from a wingnut blaming Obama for the 2001 issue of the 42 cent Muslim stamp, and the reissuing every year during the Bush administration. Another one came about President Obama removing the "in god we trust" motto on our coins in 2007, while Bush was president. I believe the senate dealt with that in 2007.

It has to be hard to be a wingnut.

He was waiting on the Afghan election, as if the election of ONE man, should effect his policy making decisions for the best interests of OUR troops. What is he waiting for now?

He is great at pushing others to meet dead-lines to accomplish HIS agenda, but lacks the discipline to make the tough decisions. This is
HIS decision (sad but true). He is a consensus, teleprompter, appeaser kind of guy.. yet we want him to be decisive?

Not gonna happen, perception is everything.. even WHEN he gets around to formulating a SINGULAR opinion (if he can do that).
We all know he is INDECISIVE 101 and should write a book called:

Dreams of my Dreams of my Fathers, or whatever. God be with us now more than ever, as this President is apparently not getting counsel from on High, but from on his LEFT.

I believe we put our troops in unnecessary danger and risk without enough "boots on the ground" to watch each others six. Let DOD do the job we ask of them. Didn't we learn anything from "Political Micro-Managing DOD " from Vietnam or Iraq follow-up? We have no responsibility for political stability, our mission is Ben Laden. Why can we not keep our focus here? What is the problem ???

Most people are not so much opposed to troops being in Afganistan, they are opposed to troops being killed and wounded in Afganistan. So the questions become if we sacrifice now does the risk of future engagement go up or down? and if we send troops now can we change tactics enough to minimize casualties.

General McCyrstal has already changed many of the tactics that we were using prior to his arrival, and he has a plan that could greatly reduce risk over time. His ideas have much merit and should be giving considerable weight, yet they must be considered in light of the larger picture, which includes the American people's resolve and international support.

My opinion is that Obama is purposefully dragging his feet so that events will conspire to make the decision for him. If the Taliban enjoy a resurgence, he'll argue that no amount of new troops will make a difference. If the situation turns around in our favor, he'll argue we don't need more troops because things are working. There's no other explanation for why he's taking so long to decide something he ALREADY issued firm policy statements about almost a year ago.

It's called making an informed decision, and it's good to see it back in the White House.

It is difficult to believe any poll would be much other than an appx. 50/50 split. The slim majority of people who voted President Obama into office basically continue to have an impression that he can do no wrong. Let's just turn our head while he demonstrates to the world that he is not a decisive leader and that he would just assume have large gov. programs take over private industry. But hey – he is a cool guy and at the end of the day – that is all we need right? I've never been so scared of government in my whole life. Republicans 2010!

Barack, I respect your judgement.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

I have voted democrat for years, but no longer. Obama is a disaster. He told us of all of these things he would do and he has delivered on none of them. Wilson was right. Obama is a LIAR. I am going to vote a straight GOP ticket next election. Maybe the GOP will do better than the mess we have now. I know a lot of my democrat friends are going to do the same. I mean how can it get any worse?

take your time.......

I don't support the war but we can't leave without fixing the mess we made and that probably requires more troops.

I didn't vote for Obama but if he wants time to gather input and consult with allies then that's OK. His generals will tell him if he's taking too much time and Obama should not be pushed by armchair quarterbacks in the press and on conservative talk shows (oh, and I'm a conservative though I do wish someone would put a muzzle on Rush L.)

Speaking of Rush, I bet he wouldn't talk so much if he wasn't making so much money at it.

Obama takes too long on any decision....look how long it took him on the decision of what type of dog to get his daughters.

Dems – He is just thinking it thru and making sure we get it right.

Reps – He is waiting to see where public opinion is on the subject and really has no idea what to do about the situation.

If he is thinking it thru, it will be the first time he has thought anything thru in 11 months.

My take, he has not idea what to do and is hoping it goes away on its own. He had 11 months to address this item...be he chose to stimulus funds to his union buddies and Wall Street execs first before addressing the needs of our soldiers and the country's security.

Send them there and they will be ground up like hamburger.

I would hope that any president would think long and hard before sending our sons and daughters into war!

Why is anyone surprised with this poll? Faux News & the rest of the hate-and-fear mongers have been harping on the amount of time President Obama is taking. War mongers want us to kill, kill, kill........ they have no patience for discernment! Of course the warmongers do not have the ....... responsibility........ of sending our children to war!

Millions upon millions pray everyday that President Obama ends the Bush Wars. War is NOT the answer to fighting terrorism! The U.S. must win over the hearts and minds of the Muslim world.

We must be the Peacemakers; the first step would be to have Israel STOP building settlements on Palestinian land! Justice & Peace go hand in hand. Who will be the Peacemaker?

President Obama has already sent over 20,000 troops to Afghanistan in March, after Bush dithered for 8 months with the same troop request. I would prefer that Obama take his time, and create a clear attainable mission.

I think President obama needs to take all the time he needs to make a correct informed decision. The general is not the president and should not dictate U.S. Policy.

I think he is doing the right thing. Let's look at it this way. When he came into office, he was informed of McChrystal's request for more troops. (the request that had been sitting on Bush's desk for a couple months) He immediately went about approving this request and sent 20,000 more Americans into harms way. Several months later, he gets yet another request saying we need more troops. Geez, I thought you only needed 20,000 before? Now you are asking for more again? Isn't this pretty much how we escalated things so badly in Vietnam? We just kept on sending more without questions or without taking the time to consider other options. We've been in Afghanistan for 8 years. I don't think a couple of months to decide on a strategy is going to do any harm. Even if the decision is to support the General's request.

I think he's not letting others rush him – or dictate to him what he should do – just as he did during his whole campaign and now in his Presidency. He listens and gets all the facts before he rushes into such an important decision – UNLIKE OUR PREVIOUS PRESIDENT.

I am proud and happy our president is taking his time on a decision concerning the lives and welfare of our American men and women.
The media is so used to irresponsible, failed decisions for the last eight years, they tend to push for the same.
None of us have the ability or the facts to determine what should or should not be done. This is too important for arm chair referees.

Let him take his time. The War Mongering that we had for 8 solid years is enough. There is not a war to win in the Afgan Country. Ask the British and Russians what they lost in lives trying to do basically the same thing. I'm glad we have a President that looks at "all" the facts and not the ones picked out for him.

If the American public and media could put up with seven years of inaction in Afghanisthan during Mr. Bush's time, why cannot we give the President the time he needs to make the right decision?

I will continue to say that pull out most troops from Afghanistan. Stop all developmental aid until Karzai can prove there is no corruption now, keep the drone attacks going, continue to pressure Pakistan to keep fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Very simple!

So the polls indicate that more people think he is not taking too long to make a decision. How come your caption was not "AMERICANS DO NOT THINK THE PRESIDENT IS TAKING TOO LONG TO DECIDE ON AFGHANISTAN"?

To those who think that he is taking too long, all you have to do is convince your sons, brothers and friends to sign up to go and fight or get behind the re-institution of the draft. This country cannot fight prolonged wars with only a tiny percentage of its citizens willing to do the heavy lifting. So come on all you who preach freedom and liberty, here is your chance to walk the walk. Yeah, right.

PLease let this man do his job. He knows what he has to do, and I am sure he will deliver. If you naysayers would just sit down, and shut up the bad mouthing, and back stubbing for a min. everything would just keep falling into place as the President has it planned.
No, you'll just has to keep stirring up s-it. Stop the foolishness Cable network and Repubs, all this talk of 2010 & 2012 elections, and the good olddddd boys of the south talking with a mouth full of sh-t, stop go back to the drawing board, check out your behavior and stop all thehate and name calling so this country can get on with the business of getting along with the rest of the world.
President Obama, I am so proud of you and you Admin. for being such grown ups and smart men and women, keep flying above the hate and gossip, don't let at settle on your shoulders, brush it OFF.

Dear CNN,
Instead of worry about how long a decision on the war takes why not give the facts on what these two wars cost us under Bush and now, President Obama. According to NPP, the organization that study federal data, our total cost since 911 is 907 Billion. Another 77 billion is requested for this year and 130 billion for 2010. This is money that could go toward health care, education, and new energy sources. Does anyone in their right mind think we can impose democracy on tribal peoples? Are we really any safer as a result? Do we not need to suspect that the US military complex want to keep its present high budget?
The future of terrorism in this country and elsewhere will come from individuals with extreme ideologies acting alone as we saw at Fort Hood. Someone or a few individuals in a mall, or on a subway with bombs on their bodies. Weapons that can be easily transported across borders, or made right here in America from sources on the internet. Our biggest threat for terror is from within.
God bless America, she truly needs it.

He is taking way too long, either give more troops to support the ones there or pull them all out. When he said change, he sure meant it, for the worse. This man dont know how to lead nothing or make proper decisions. All he knows how to do is give speeches and campaign.
And I am wondering what is the urgency of the health reform bill all of a sudden. There should be some things fixed in current health care, but not the way they are doing it. I see the public option and the abortion part always being talked about, what the hell about what they are doing to the seniors, dont they count anymore????? You all will be seniors one day and then you will wish things were done differently. This country has gone to hell real fast when Obama took over. Him and his family are riding high and having the time of their lives at our expense, something is seriously wrong that this great country is allowing this all to go on....

People, does the president come to your office and tell you how to do your job? If you have never been a president, I dont think any of us has an ability to tell him how to do his.

Is Obama really being criticized for being thoughtful about a critical decision? What?! Everybody needs to be grateful we have an intelligent president who doesn't shoot from the hip!

I voted for you, now get with the program and get our troops out of Afghanistan and start making the lives of Americans better. I am tired of giving our money to countries that don't even like us.

One thing that I know as a PhD physical chemist is that decisions should be data-based. Of course, President Obama needs to colllect and then assess all the available data and recommendations not only from the generals on the ground but also from senior staff, etc. This is lots more than a military operation...the implications are overwhelming for those who serve and we Amercian citizens as well.

My layman's perspective is that he is taking too, but I just that a layman. This must be an incredibly intense and complicated process and must not be entered into carelessly. I trust the President to take as long as he needs. The worst decisions are made as a knee jerk reaction.

The only captain of the ship is the President. If everyone will tend to have their say of how to steer, the ship might capsize and I do not know who will blame who!

Nope. Give the man a break. He wants to be absolutely certain that he is doing the right thing. Of course, Every single republican, conservative, fundy will say he got it wrong no matter WHAT he does. Because they are hateful bigots.

It takes time to recalibrate.

President Obama is doing the right thing studying the whole issue for a better judgement, unlike the Bush man, who got the whole stuff messed up because he wasn`t born to think. Thank God John MaCain didn`t win. Republicans alone would have been fighting wars in Iran, Palestine, North Korea, Somalia, Irak pluss Afghanistan. How on earth would they have provided health care, saved the economy etc. And they preached "No taxes"? Go figure America...

52% said he should listen to his generals and the generals say more troops.

It DOES NOT MATTER what 1000 people taking a poll think. We have troops on the ground. Given them what they need YESTERDAY.

Obama said this is the war we needed to fight....so fight it.

Man...I would hate to still be in the USMC with this guy in charge.

No, not at all. I think he is carefully weighing the pros and cons of sending addtional troups in harms way and to a place where the territory is hostile to the unaccostomed. This needs input from various departments of the executive branch but not the emotional politicians whose interest is only to get reelected. The president is doing a great job in planning this out.

He is not taking too long...he is being very wise. What he should decide is to get us OUT of Iraq and Afghanistan instead of spending more money and killing more people over there. We are not the world's police, and we have to stop acting like it.

Yes, he is taking too long. Yes, he should listen to the military. They are the ones over there, not him. He has NO idea about war. He has never even served. Big shock there. He is one of the ones that let everyone else do his work for him. Either give them the resources to do the job, or get them out of there! The Congress controlled the Viet Nam war, and look at the result. We lost our first war. Let the military run this one. The result is much better when people with intelligence do their job instead of having wanna be's in the drivers seat. The Congress members sit behind their body guards. If they don't want to support the troops put them on the front line. No matter how you spin it, Congress, the Senate nor the President will never be military heroes.

It's really easy for people to sit on their sofas, watching TV to criticize very tough decisions and plans the President must make, isn't it?

I wish someone could tell me why other factors shouldn't be taken into consideration? Sometimes I just think we have lost critical thinking skills in this country! We are just so good with 'go with the gut' and that doesn't always work out well as years gone by have proven. There is a time and a place for that but it should be after all factors are considered.

The only critical thinking that seems to go on the country today, particularly in Washington, is how to score the best political points. It has nothing to do with what's best for our country. It's all about plotting how to stop somebody. I read the article about John Thune this morning and the GOP's main focus is about stopping Obama and the Democrats. I'm sure it was the same with Democrats when the GOP were in charge. IS IT TOO MUCH to ask that they all think about doing their jobs and not scoring points off the other party???
In all honesty I do have to say that the GOP has perfected it to an art this time and quite honestly the whole bunch of them make me nauseous. TERM LIMITS!@!!

If President Bush had done the proper research we might never had gone to War with Iraqi. President Obama might make the wrong choice but at least he is trying to come up with right steps to take. Take your time Obama try to make it right. If George W. Bush had just read his Fathers Book he never would have gone to War with Iraqi
.

It's pretty simple, community organizers aren't trained to make hard decisions, they are controlled by the people who fund them AKA george soros............

It seems to me that the presence of foriegn military forces are the primary complaint of the Islamic radicals and the average peaceful Muslim as well. Should we not look back to the mid eighties and the Red Army invasion of Afghanistan and take a lesson so that we don't have to relive history. So long as our presence is percieved as military occupation by the Afghans there can be no victory.

He's not taking too long, we have been there eight years without a plan, so let's do it right this time.

Huh, not too long... unlike Bush President Obama is gathering information and weighing options like he should be doing before sending military personnel to war... to hell with a poll, no matter what the poll or outcome may be folks will still be unsatisfied with sending or not sending more troops.
I rather sleep peaceful at night knowing my President thought long deep and hard about this decision than on the fly or pressured by the likes of Cheney, Culter, Palin... who will come out opposing President Obama's decision regardless.

YES!!!

What is so hard about doing the right thing and bringing our troops home???

The last administration left him in a terrible position. Any decision he makes re: Afghanistan has drawback. If he pulls out the troops without first ordering a surge, the Taliban will shoot our military in the backside on the way out. We should handle this exit like the one in Iraq, crush the Taliban in one fell swoop, give Afghans control, and leave.

Sugest reading "Where Men Win Glory", Jon Krakhauer to get a clearer picture of what we face in Afghanistan.
We need to educate ourselcves more on what we face and what is at stake.

This is life or death .... thank God the President is thinking with his brain rather than reacting with "his gut" .... don't trust people who depend on their intestines to decide. No matter what this President does ... it will be too slow – too fast – too little – too much .... keep polling – the rest of us are going on with our lives .

Sending troops into a war zone is not an easy decision to make. I applaud President Obama's cautious deliberations on this issue. The lessons of history remind us daily of how the rush to war can prove to be a fatal mistake for our young men and women who bravely serve. The decison will be made. We've been there for 8 years. Another week of discussion and review will not make an impact on the outcome of this difficult scenario.

Please, at least he is not taking us into a war based on a lie. They need to be concern about who knew about Hasan and why NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT HIM? We need to take responsbility about these wars. Bring our troops home and put them on the borders. On September 11th, the TERRORISTS came into our country, trained at our flight schools and flew OUR PLANES into the buildings. EVERYONE AT IMMIGRATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED! THE FBI AND CIA KNEW ABOUT THE TERRORISTS JUST LIKE THEY KNEW ABOUT HASAN. America cannot keep going to war with people of color or mulisms and think that it will not affect them. This is people of faith. IF WE WERE CONSISTENTLY AT WAR WITH EUROPE, ISRAEL OR IRELAND, I think we will welcome President Obama delay in this decision.

The ones who do not tink he is taking too long probably don't even realize the current action wasby his decision and review in March of this year...this is all about politics and posturing...the man is lost...tough to wear the big boy pants after a campaign of empty promises...this is what happens when a guy who never ran anything is elected...maybe he should be the next coach of the Redskins too!!!

He should get all the information needed before he sends any more men and women into harms way........ funny how some will Praise our men and women in the military for the jobs they are doing to protect us and our country, but you are all still War hungry wanting to continue a War that will take many more lives of our troops, a War that no matter how many more men and women we send we can not win......I hope he brings them all home......and end this nonsense........

President Obama is doing his duty as President the way he feels is appropriate. Perhaps if the previous President had taken his time and had an appropriate strategy or any strategy President Obama would not be in the position he is in today to have to make the decision.

I love it how some people would rather he make a knee jerk decision just to be making a decision. Let's hurry up and send more of our military to Afghanistan without thinking why and how we will get them out. But in the end though, the Obama haters will criticize everything and anything he does regardless what it is. What I don't understand is why those critical of President Obama don't step up to the plate and enlist? Why not step up and offer your time and life and give those who have been there 2,3,4 times a break. Today is Veterans Day what a thing to do for your country.

If i really thought it was just analysis and not political timing I would support it. We need to analyze and not advertise every move. I basically think he is waiting to get compromises from the left for the healthcare reform before he doesn't do what his left wingnuts want him to do and thats just pull out.

I would rather the president take his time and make a good decision then rush and make a hasty one.

I think some are confusing with rationalizing with inexperience.

Generals are not diplomatic. If Obama wants to solve this in a diplomatic way, the military advice would be worthless other than to maintain status quo.

If you want to solve this by force, there is a much quicker way than what has been happening to date.

Too bad Dick and George W. didn't do what they are good at in the right country in first place.

I am a Baracki [Obama supporter] but he is taking too long to make decisions period. None of his campaign pledges other than the stumulus bills have been implemented. Insted he has postoponed until kingdom come,all his important decisons inlcuding the closure of Guntanamo Bay, more troops to Afganistan, repealing the Bush tax cuts etc. It is one thing to be carefull when it comes to making desisions. It is another to just keep on postponing your decisons while you wait for the right time [political expediency] so as to make big desisions.He should know that there is never a decision that will be 100% fullproof no matter how long it takes him to make those decisions. Just make desisions the you know are good for America and Americans. Do not pospone making desisions based on the political climate!!

Of course he is not taking too long. He inherited this mess with no strategy, and he should take whatever time needed to get the right strategy (including an exit strategy) in place.

While I have great faith in military leaders (I am a veteran and loved my life in the military), I disagree with those who say he should primarily listen to military leaders on the issue. They have one mission, basically, and that is to win.

That may not be the most important part of it anymore. The founding father set civilian rule over the military for a good reason. Civilian leaders can consider more than victory or defeat in establishing policy.

While I expect him and any other civilian leader to get their input and thoughts, only he can make the decision and if he wants to consult his national security staff in doing so, good on him...

The President needs to take all the time necessary before committing more of our troops in this effort. This is something that should be considered lightly or rushed into as some would have it.

Too long? When is it too long to consider sending US troops into a war zone without carefully reviewing all points of view before making a decision?

Maybe if he had had more experience with the military, the Pentagon, how we gather intel., how we analize it, sat on some Congressional Committee(s) concerning the Armed Forces, etc. instead of just "community organizing", he could come to a timely decision. Meanwhile, our best & brightest tough it out in a war ( at least it's not a "police action") not knowing if they will give their lives for something that will be a footnote in future history books.

If he can't even issue a Presidential Directive getting rid of the "don't ask, don't tell", how can he make a monumential decision on how to fight a war even IF we stay to fight?

The majority of American citizens and all of the cynical media don`t deserve such an honest and clever man as President. You make me sick with your opinion research polls etc. 2012 you will elect a female cowboy. May be from Texas, oh sorry, from Alaska.
I am more than happy, that I am 61 and dancing my last waltz on this planet.

Compare Obama's process to Bush/Cheney. Bush/Cheney after 9-11 were compiling inaccurate evidence to invade Afgan and Iraq and made the major decision to concentrate on Iraq, again on faulty evidence. Obama wants to make dead certain which way to go. The military commanders are always wanting more troops, but they do not establish the final say so on what the mission or goal is. The commander in chief does. If Obama decides to pull the trigger then I hope he does so for a decisive victory. If he does not, then let's pull out all the way.

YES!!! He's taken way too long!!!

Clearly, he was not ready to be our president, not ready to make the most important calls in the right timeframe, not ready to lead!!!

This is sad, very, very, very sad...

I think he's taking the right amount of time – remember, Obama has to make sure he's pleasing everyone so he can't make any decisions on his own. Once his focus groups are complete, I'm sure he'll make the "right" decision.

It is about time we had leadership that contemplated these matters versus childish leadership that acted rashly with little or no forethought to the devastating consequences of such actions (think Bush/Cheney Iraq and the sinful omission of dropping the ball so early on in Afghanistan). Don't let the idiots that ruined our economy and national reputation influence these policy decisions. Let them do something they CAN manage like a tea party.

NO as long he watch Karzai

He can't afford to lose a health care vote from pacifists. The day after the health care vote will come this decision.

what I can't understand is why so many people want the president to send more men and women into harms way when the polls show that most Americans don't want that...they actually prefer a withdrawl. The ones who want this most seem to be the far right and Republicans, the ones always saying SUPPORT OUR TROOPS but seem to have no problem sending them over in numbers to possibly become casualties. If the president does send a large number of troops over there and the "surge" works will the GOP commend him on it? NO! If he does and the death toll starts going up will they stand behind him and back him on it? NO!

"That suggests that a lot of people who don't support a troop build-up are unaware of General Stanley McChrystal's request for a bigger U.S. military presence there,"

In other words, another big fat waste of time and money doing a survey of the average American's uniformed knee-jerk OPINION just so you can raise a controversial question in order to fabricate "news." True journalism is dead. Surveys of opinion are not facts worthy of reporting. Rather than spending time and money generating profit by exploiting the information vacuum, you should be spending time and money filling it. Ultimately, the societal reward would be greater than some piddling increase in ad revenues based on the ratings you've been been able to drum up by doing us all a disservice.

Pay attention to Gates, btw. He hits the nail on the head in the article further down the Ticker. Apparently, the average American doesn't understand why the CiC is a civilian, not a military officer...but hey, that works in your favor, right CNN? So why bother addressing that point?

People are pretty well-conditioned to respect the military. Don't be surprised if all that good will evaporates if the President follows their advice and its a disaster.

Everyone criticized Bush for going into Iraq impulsively with no exit strategy.

I hear everyone talking about how to escalate the war, but I'm not hearing the media question these military advisers about how and when to exit that particular war theater.

Let's learn from our mistakes.

If we're going into Afghanistan, have some idea how we're going to get out.

Personally, I have this gut feeling that he is more concerned with his own personal legacy of passing health care in his "first year in office" than anything else and all other matters seem to be secondary. This artificial deadline of Christmas or the end of the year shows that he wants something "historic" rather than something all Americans can be comfortable with. As for deciding about Afghanistan, there always seems to be something else to ask for or somewhere else to go to put off making that important decision. Just how many more excuses can he come up with?

Most Americans seem to be disgustingly uneducated about the world. And the scary thing is, that includes their own country.

Yes he has taken too long already. If he was half the man that John McCain was, it would be a done deal by now.
We cannot as a nation afford to let the people on the street, (who really cannot be trusted to have an intelligent answer, the politicians who lie to us again and again); and other assorted smart a–es run a war.
Wars should be run by the boots on the ground, not be some community orgainizer from a city run by the gangs of brutal thugs. And it difinitely should not by run by a congressman who did not attend sessions when he should have.

His poll numbers are in a free fall. We need a better man/woman in the White House.

The area is pratually statlize now so why rock the boat by sending more troop over there.

He is taking his time and thats a good thing ,Think about it.. how would you like knowing you sent someone's son or daughter to their death by making a quick decision. Personally I think we should pull out of both wars and quit wasting billions of dollars . Funny how the republicans can justify spending billions on a war where we gain nothing yet squack about spending money on helthcare for american citizens.

A good commander looks at all areas before going into battle. A lesson lost on Bush. The President is doing what Bush should have done and if Bush had this war would be over now and Iraq never would have had to happen.

Thank you to all Vets. past,present and future.

Of course he is, he's not a leader. Either send them or bring them home but make a decision already.

He is doing the right thing by thinking this monumentous decision through. How long did Bush/Cheney think about sending our troops to Iraq? Did they have maybe one war council meeting on it? Their decision was made the day 9/11 occurrred. We have to get it right this time and Bush/Cheney never got it right. Murdered over 4,000 troops as far as I'm concerned.

The Bush-Cheney team worked on Afghanistan for six years and it was a mess when they left. This president, apparently, does not decide things until he's explored all the angles and possiblities.

If Bush and Cheny had been as thorough and as careful as Bush Sr. was with the Gulf War, things would be in better shape. They apparently thought that our troops would march into the capital on streets lined with cheering citizens.

He doesn't want to fall in to the Viet Nam trap that Lyndon Johnson did. The Pentagon always says that with 50,000 more troops and $500 million more dollars they can get the job done. They say that every year. We don't want to make an investment like that and find that the country is still a mess in 4 or 8 years.

We hired the guy to take care of this stuff. Let Obama make up his mind in his own time.

What do you expect from a person whose experience is a community organizer?

And who was mainly elected by those on welfare, the young who believe his false promises, etc.

At least he is spending more time on it. It doesn’t really mater how long it takes. He can take all the time he needs. The problem was, he was just not involved.

Now that he is working on it, he needs to make sure to leave the politics out of the decision making process.

It's amateur hour in the White House. What a shame and such a blow to our wonderful soilders.

End these wars for profit and colonialism, bring our brave troops home now!

Obama should have been all over this 6 mionths ago or earlier. he should have gone to this military folks in the field and ask them for an assessment to include current situation – goals – strategy – timetable.

And I was hoping for Obama to be a little more discreet. let's not post a detailed blueprint of our deployments and strategies on line so that the Tasliban and Al Queada can plan for our arrival.... what ever happened to "loose lips sink ships" Obama should put a press blackout on Iraq and Afghan military ops and I mean a total black out – no embedded press no daily briefings - NADA until the job is done

Hmmm... the pres needs now more than four months to decide whether to give his field commanders the supplies ("troops") they have requested, yet his House of Reps passes an oblique 2000-page monstrosity of a healthcare bill in mere hours with virtually no one reading it.

One and Done, Four and the Door,
A Single Term and Nothing More.

2010 – Democrat BloodBath
2012 – Republican Landslide ala Reagan v. Mondale, 1984

He is taking just enough time to make certain he gets the greatest amount of press coverage and the greatest number of photo-ops. After all, he's not a president, he's just a performer.

He's got the information he needs, he's got more and better information than you have, and whatever he does is going to have a significant impact on where we go from here. So for all the ankle-biters, hush - the adults are talking.

Backseat driving at its best huh CNN?

Thank God President Obama is taking his time!!!!!! Considering the dilema the previous administration's knee jerk reaction left us in, we should all be grateful for this deliberate, thoughtful and caring President. GOBAMA!!!!!!!

Yes, he is taking too long to make his decision, and the reason is the Nobel Peace prize he recieved. Sending more troops into Afghanistan is contradictory on what the prize is all about. Its about peace not war. He will have the same problem with the Palestinian issue and Israel, and having his chief of staff making a statement such as the one he made about the settlements does'nt help President Obama achieve peace in the area. I hate to say it, but he needs to listen to the Russian former President when he adviced him to withdraw from Afghanistan rather than sending more troops as his generals advice him to do. We sending troops in harm's way to keep President Karsai in power, that's all. I don't believe he is worth the life of any soldier to die for, even Afghanistan itself.

Obama is taking to long this is his what 8th meeting the longer he takes the more lives and ground is lost in the afghan war. Shame on him for not supporting our heros

President Obama is taking his time, it shows he want"s to make the right choice.

Mr President; It is a hard decision I am sure; but that is what you were elected to do. Make Decisions that are in the best interest of America. Health Care is a great thing but it still helps the Hospitals of America more than it will help us. Let the General's run the war's If war is what is really best. If not pull the plug and don't waste another american life in that God forsaken place. We in America need jobs and we would be better suited bringing some jobs back to America. Especially where it concerns our security. Microchips, Automated power switching, Back up power generators, and Military hardware of all kinds should only be produced in the USA. That is a more likely avenue for terrorism than anything that happens in Afganistan.

It's refreshing to see the Commander In Chief taking his time. The Republicans say it is endangering the troops. No. What endangers the troops, are hasty decision. We saw that with the Bush Administration.

Yes, the decision should have been made many weeks ago; I hope our troops already in that arena are not already in greater jeopardy this long after the military's recommendations.

At least it's a president who listens to generals, instead of making decisions based on faulty intelligence and dictates to the military to make up ways to justify them.

he needs to get this right......yes... but lives are being lost and he needs to be decisive....as a leader who is commanding a war...not the one we see every day that seems to be campaigning and pandering to the base for political gain.

make a stand for something and defend it, sir.... you tire me.

Where was this question when Bush was president? How come the years upon years of indecisiveness and distractions by Bush and Cheney never bothered anyone, and NOW this becomes an issue?

Well DUH! That's a no brain er!

obama might be able to take a 03:00 AM phone call but he sure can't make a simple decision on a request for more troops to Afghanistan. Is it any wonder that the Iranians and N. Koreans are walking all over him.

Obama's administration is not a war monger like the previous administration

Another study that shows how little effort people really put into learning about the major issues facing their country. So long as we remain willing to be led around by the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, Maddow, tea baggers and the sort we will remain a nation of fools, whipsawed by extremists. The president is the nation's Commander-in-chief; let Mr. Obama do his job as well as he is able, even if that means refusing to kowtow to particular group, party, or military officer.

Obama. Commander in Chief by title, not by actions.

Why does it take 3 months to make a decision whether or not to send additional troops to the battlefield?

The President should be a Leader!

Now we come to find out he is considering a "hybrid" strategy of sending 30-35,000 troops, instead of 40,000? Well golly gee, isn't that kinda close to what McChrystal wanted, 40,000? Why not just send the 40,000?

Instead of saying that you......compromised. You, in your infinite wisdom of being the Commander in Chief. Let me guess the ............teleprompter told you 30,000 to 35,0000 sounded better to your Liberal friends........ Don't give the General what he wants, he might WIN!

Bring Them Home Obama. No more nation-building. We're broke and being invading from the south.

The world's policeman or free healthcare, not both.

I've always believed that Obama's touting of the war in Afghanistan during his campaign was a way for him to be "for the war on terror" and at the same time be "against the war in Iraq". It was more smoke and mirrors that allowed to have his cake and eat it to.

Now that he's Pres', his resolve to fight the "war of necessity" has waned. What should we have expected? He's a democrat, and by their own admission democrats don't like to fight -excepting of course Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, and Christianity.

Sorry Afghanistan, this guy hasn't the stomach or desire to win a war. Remember; he's "uncomfortable with victory". He's going to wait popularity out, when the polls show he safe to do it, he's gona bail.

Imagine, polling for support for our soldiers to win or loose.

Obama is a weak, weak, spineless amoeba on this subject. He'll cede both Iraq and Afghanistan if that's what his loon lefties want.

I wonder why we never hear anything in the Obama press about Iraq or much about Afghanistan. You know our soldiers are still fighting and facing rough odds. But now that we have a spineless slug for a president the government controlled media wants it out of sight and mind as much as possible. Too bad we have lost the free press to ideologues that run the now government press. I remember Radio Free Europe when I was young. That was how the truth of the happenings of the world reached the people behind the iron curtain (Soviets) that were fed propaganda only. We now need Radio Free America.

Another example of the Bush administration handing us yet another bag of crap (like economy, health care, housing) and the very people that thought everything in that bag was all right, is now saying "It's a disaster, and Obama is dithering!" When Obama is trying to fix somthing that he himself messes up, then I will say that those people can complain about what he is doing. I think he is doing the right thing by looking at all the options, rather than taking what some General says and running with that.

We voted Obama Mr. Change in to grant all americans universal health care and rights and to end war completely. We of the progressive left are just like contemporary europeans we do not want any more war and we want ALL troops pulled out tomorrow. Enough imperialism, this is a bankrupt country.

Are these Americans, who don't understand why these decisions might take a little thought, in any way asking why Bush and Cheney ignored Afghanistan for 8 years

Did they wonder then ???

Theses surveys and polls are such nonsense

Let the president do his job, he won our vote, now just give him the opportunity to do what we hired him to ...

We are talking about escallation! Not going down the street for a hot dog. He had better take his time and get the right answer. Unlike the previous administration who took no time and threw our soldiers into conflicts without a mission or goal which has left us in a quagmire.

In this he must define a mission which can be achieved and then we go home. We spend $182 to $187 million tax payer dollars in Afganistand a month alone, not including Iraq. Health care, education and our crumbeling infrastructure needs that money now. You wonder why there is a recession? Look at the wars!

If he is smart, he will take time to hear all sides, form the proper policy and we as Americans will support him for it! TAKE YOUR TIME

As a Senator and harsh critic of the former administration President Obama had two years to develop a strategy. He ordered a top-to-bottom review of Afghanistan within weeks of being sworn in and received the assessment and recommendaitons in the spring. He fired the general in charge of Afghanistan, in part for asking for so many additional troops, and replaced him with his own general – McChrystal – as part of the "new" strategy.

McChrystal is now asking for more troops.

The problem isn't that President Obama is taking too long to make a decsion...he's already made his decision and it has been implemented; no more troops for now. The question is will he accept that his first decision, to not give McChrystal the troops he needs, isn't working, or will he "stay the course" of "hope(ing)" that somehow things will "change" on their own in Afghanistan.

Perhaps another round of golf (25 since Jan?) will help him clear his mind.

Why does EVERY LIVING BODY wants to be President???? There is only one Commander in Chief and strategies MUST be thought through. President Bush RUSHED to PICK a fight with Iraq and look where we are now!!

The Afghan war has been going on for many years and some people want President Obama to make a decision since BIG MOUTH McChrystal BLURTED OUT he needed 40,000 more troops. Hmm, I wonder who was really behind McChrystals request???? Think about it!!!

Please tax us to pay for the cost of the war instead of passing it on to our kids.

It will cost $500 billion. Please raise income taxes immediately to pay for it.

36. When it comes to decisions about military strategy and troop strength in Afghanistan, do you think Obama should follow the recommendations of the generals in charge of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, or should Obama take other matters into account as well?
Oct. 30-Nov. 1,2009
Follow recommendations of generals 52%
Take other matters into account 48%
No opinion 1%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Umm unless something has changed the President is the leader of the millitary...Article II, section 2 – specifies that “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several states, when called into the actual Service of the United States.” This language provides the president with constitutional powers over the armed forces, powers shared with Congress..." -(The Constitution) Not the generals..yes they have a say but there not where the buck stops!

Too long compared to what? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that 90+% of Americans have no basis to form an opinion on this.

I would like to know how many people actually knew the context of the issue and thought it was important BEFORE the pollsters called.

When you have the lives of thousands of Amerians on the line and quite frankly the wealth of the USA and the future of the country you do need to give the issue some long, hard, serious thought. Weigh the options and do what is in the best interest of all Americans.

We have seen what happens when you shoot from the hip, decide by emotion or worse yet decide based on what the war machine lobby tells you or pays you to do.

I my opinion, bring the troops home, let the idiots overseas kill each other off and let us focus on homeland security, keeping undesirables out and strenghtening our security here.

...and if he made a speedy decision, he would be judged as too hasty, rash, impulsive.

There is always something to complain about isn't there?

This is why he is the leader and we are not!

I'm glad President Obama doing his due diligence. I want a president who thinks very carefully about strategy and the impact of various scenarios before sending troops anywhere. We had 8 years of bull headed policy making so its good to see the president looking at various options.

I think we have to remember that this is more than about how many troops we send over there. The battle goes beyond winning on the battlefield. We have to build a nation and support the people of Afghanistan so they have alternatives to the Taliban's ideology. That comes through, education and social services and infrastructure. We failed to do that in the 1980's after supporting the Afghan rebels in the war with the Soviets, and we failed to do it after kicking out the Taliban after the initial invasion.

Our soldiers always to do a great job winning the battles but the leaders and frankly we as citizens fail miserably on the follow up.

It is so obvious why he was given the Nobel Peace Prize. What a peacefule gesture to send 34_000 young men and women to kill people in a foreign country. Way to go, Comrad Obama!!

If he ever makes a decision, he will anger one group or another. He needs to dangle your children in front of the Taliban so he can bask in his precious popularity.

We need to allow the President to do his job. We listen to much to the media and their political analysts. Who do not have the up to date information. The President is surrounded by people that know what's going on, once he has gather all the neccessary information then a decision will be made. The President should and will not base a decision such as this because some media's thank he should move faster. To place our military in harms way without knowing all that is needed is foolish. And, I think we have seen what foolishness get's us. 8 Years of foolishness has gotten us a great depression!!!!!!! So, Mr. President take your time, no war was won in a day.

This is the smartest President in years. I trust his judgement

No. Couch potatoes can make quick decisions because they are sending other people's children and money. We have 2 choices. Go to war (which means starting a draft, starting a war tax and sending as many troops as we need to win) or getting out of there. Anything else is just killing more people.

I feel like we need to start winding down our operations and start with focused attacks to contain/control al qaeda. We can't afford this war in either dollars or lives. We have much more efficient ways of getting what we need done, done instead of putting targets on 100k soldiers and lining them up in the sand.

Considering the question has come up before.........yes! His dithering while our soldiers are dying is really wearing thin. Those who foolishly attempt to defend our Campaigner in Chiefs lack of action as caring and well thought out are really out of touch with reality. Obama is Naive and in way over his head. Obama is not qualified for the job of president. His thin resume of a community leader and junior senator, with a poor voting record at that. Next time don't vote for the empty suit with the empty promises.

yes he is. he's procrastinating because he has no idea what to do. he is working to get consensus among his own inner circle but can't. he is afraid to make a decision without agreement with his own inner circle because he does not want defection later that may result in a 'tell all' book.

No he is not taking too long.

My niece is serving in Afganistan. I want out government to know what it is doing there and how it is going to do it, rather that use the same kind of group-think an jingoistic reactionary thinking that murdered 57,000+ Americans and 2,000,000 + Vietnamese for no purpose whatsoever. My niece's life is not a poitical toy for right-wing militarists and politicians to play with.

Guarding America's interests in a economical strategy is the only way to deal with the situation in Afganistan. A Presdent, Obama owes nothing less to those whose lives are on the line.

Bush fought a war for family pride ("He tried to kill my Daddy!") at the behest of the Neo-Con (see Crypto-Facist) ideologues. America and it fighting forces deserve better. They are gettng it. God bless President Obama. At last an adult in the White House!

Unlike our former President, Dick Cheney, he is not sending our troops into harms way unless it is absolutely necessary. This is a war that was started, neglected so we could invade a country for no known reason other than the two of them wanted us in war, and has now gotten out of control. The saddest part of this whole scenerio is all the Americans lost. Maybe of President Cheney and VP Bush had concentrated on this war, we would have already be out. The Russians realized they couldn't control this situation and withdrew their troops years ago. People who do not study history are doomed to repeat it and thus here we sit stuck in a war that should have been completed before we went into a war we had no business starting..Those who criticizes the most are the ones who cheered the Iraq mistake loudly.

It's amazing people want him to make water into wine! You couldn't make this stuff up. He's doing a good job and I for one do not want him to make a quick decision just to satisfy the crazies of the world.

Take as much time as you need Mr. President. Don't be rushed into making a foolish decision.

It;s 3 am. and we all see how this President answered the phone.

There are many, many instances from the small to the big that need some real thought to lead to a way for a better situation. People that have the high noon mentality are disrespectful and deaf to the situation of the other side. If there is an extremely difficult time in the hot spots of the world, it is now!
So, it is very advisable to finally start thinking with interest and openness to the concerns of the opposing side and about the workable goal one would hope for. There might be great differences – but, in the end a livable life is what all want! And with the money already spend on the two wars; there would have been a lot of room to improve lives for many!
One can only be very happy that the President is thinking – it will come to good resolution for all! So, take the time too for a little reflection – instead of criticizing all the time without knowing the facts.

Of course he's taking too long. It's been over a year since he was elected. It's not as if Afghanistan just sprang up or was just dumped on him this month. His failure to focus on this issue for the past year is his own fault and no one elses.

These people that think he is not taking too long, are they also in favor of pushing through healthcare reform, (and I use that term in jest since it is so wrong), without proper time to understand what they are doing?

If they are, then they are the ones who will blindly follow anything he does and cannot think for themselves.

By doing nothing for 9 months he is risking our military's lives.
By pushing through just anything on healthcare he is risking our economic lives.

I guess that is change we can count on. Change for the sake of change.

6 months of second-guessing. Not a good sign for someone with executive authority . Obama waits for something to react to, not to take action. Very weak leadership in the US with this man.

Hey, don't blame Obama. After all this is a yes or no decision and all he's ever done is vote 'present'. What we are seeing was the inevitable result of electing someone who never ran so much as a lemonade stand in his entire life.

Quite simply, yes. The troops deserve to know whether more will be coming. If the President doesn't want to, that's his decision, but the military deserves an answer.

I for one am happy to have a president who thinks about things and gets the advice of others rather than shooting from the hip.

A lot of lives are at stake in Afghanistan no matter what he chooses. so it isn't a decisions that should be made lightly or with expedience for the sake of satisfying news outlets.

This is the very indecision that plagued Jimmy Carter's tenure as a one term President. Deja-Vu

We will not win this war .. This war begun by them in the 70s and by themselves .. it will have to end by themselves .. it is a civil war and if we choose a particular side all that will happen is the other side and all their backers to hate the U.S. .. what are we hoping to gain? a WIN? there's no winning this and we must get out. We are not fighting terrorist as much as we are creating the environment for it.

Obama has made it perfectly clear to the "terrorists" that he will be soft on them and they will be given the benefit of the doubt–even as American boys and girls die defending this country. He showed his coldness by not even mentioning the name of the terrorist that killed our sons and daughters..........what was he thinking? Those 2 (Obamas) have icewater in their veins.

Obama dithers and plays politics with health care while brave men and women die in Afghanistan. He doesn't want to upset his loony left or blue dog Dems on Obamacare in making his decision.

It's just that simple. Unfortunately, the senate vote now won't come until after the first of the year. We shall see if the Ditherer in Chief procrastinate that long...

We finally have a president who takes time to think out and make decisions that effect the lives of people, rather than a rush to judgment.

Surely he has had pllenty of time to think about the decision, why is he waiting? More troops are getting killed each day due to his inability to make a decisioin. Obama speak out NOW.

Absolutely not...take your time, Mr. President...you can't manage to address all of George W. Bush's screwups effectively by being rushed...

GOP: Evolve or die

The president hasn't got the balls to make a decision in favor of the United States citizens. Soldiers are dying while he procrastinates facing the reality. Colin Powell had it right – go in with overwhelming force and just do the job. If Obama had a personal risk in Afghanistan, he might do something different. The way it stands for now, he is playing politics with the lives of soldiers.

He campaigned on his strategic plan he had ready for Afghanistan. Now, he needs months to respond to a request from his General on the ground. That should be days, not months.

Obamas in way over his head and our troops are in harms way while he sits with his thumb up his ...

Take your time Mr. President and get it right

I think the president should take as much time as needed since this decision is not a lite one to be made. Who wants rushed decisions, we had that through the last administration.

Absolutely not! This is how we get ourselves into intractable messes that cost American lives. We had enough of the "shoot first, never ask any questions" warmongering mentality. Remember McCain's "bomb bomb Iran" philosophy? We would have been in confrontation militarily in Iran too right now if left up to the Republicans. As a Veteran of the United States Army, I APPLAUD President Obama for finally asking the questions that should have been asked years ago, and weren't asked in Iraq until we had lost thousands of servicemen & women. He will make the decision soon enough and America will be the better for it, because of his thoughtful, careful and prudent deliberation. Thank you Mr. President!

I think the approach being taken by this president is the right one. How many American lives need to be wasted on a country that wants no part of our form of government? We are in the same shoes that the USSR was in when it tried to conquer Afghanistan. The USSR put no limits on the amount of troops they sent in to face a people that would rather be ruled by their local warlord than a central government. We supported the "Freedom Fighters" of Afghanistan at that time just as Iran and more than likely China are supporting the current group of "Freedom Fighters" now. I am glad President Obama is at least trying not to be sucked into the same vacuum. American lives are precious and should not be wasted on people that ride burros as a main form of transportation that don't want and don't appreciate our form of government. The day bush and his cronies outsourced the capture of Osama Bin Laden trying to do the job on the cheap was the day we lost control of hat will ultimately happen in Afghanistan.

President Obama is an intelligent human being who is weighing all the options and looking at both sides. Unlike the previous Administration, President Obama wants to do what is right for the United State and their allies. I personally hope we withdraw troops and get out, but I will respect whatever the President decides.

C'mon, give the guy some time. He'll get to it. After all, he has to split his time between campaining, fund raising, photo ops, basketball games, hiring czars, spending taxpayer dollars........

Maybe he should rush it like "W" did when deciding on Iraq?

Take your time, Mr. President..........take your time!!!!

He's clueless but you already know that don't you.

Obama needs to get finish this war and listen to commanders on the ground! The UN or NATO will not sacrifice for US! Send our boys and girls everything they need, finish the job and COME HOME!! No more politics!! He does not have the choice of taking his sweet time. WAR IS WAR!

Ordinary people don't understand the logistics of such a decision. What do people think, the President is taking too long, well 40,000 troops or so can't just get on a plane a fly to afghanistan. It's takes time to mobolize troops and all their tons of equipment. If anyone is listening, the Pres. repeatedly has said we are not pulling out. And a another thing, McCrystal is in charge in afghanistan because the commander in chief put him in charge, not the other way around. McCrytal listens to the President. There is nothing wrong with making a stragedy that works, a stradegy that works is one that is well THOUGHT out, not made on knee jerk reactions. Its been 8 years, most of them were wasted on Bush's misleading and NONCOMMITAL stradedy to go after al-qeada. Al-qeada is the bottom line, al-qeada is what threatens America's Nat;l security. Please, let the Pres. and the troops do what they have to do.

I personally like a president who looks at all options, talks to a wide range of experts and takes a decision like this seriously. Thank God we no longer have the "wanted dead or alive" rhetoric.

Very Plain and Simple.

U.S.A is the World's Biggest Military Power. Super Power # 1.

Afghanistan is just a Timid Country. Does not even have an Air Force, Tanks, etc.

If we could not win this war in 9 years. We can never win it even in 100 years.

Why should we put our troops in harms way unnecessarily. We need to bring them home.

Terrorist don't attack us from outside, they come inside our country an attack us. All 9/11 terrorists were living here and trained here.

The best remedy is to have a better homeland security and defend ourselves, than going after these terrorist in other countries. Our economy does not allow us to spend on war, when we don't have jobs, industry, homes.

Obama should take as much time as is necessary to make the CORRECT decision – unlike the previous administration which never bothered to think through their actions.

The President is honoring his commitment to our men and women in uniform, that he will never send them into harm's way unless its absolutely necessary.

Too many war-hawks think they can play God with our soldier's lives – I'm glad we finally have a president who honors the Soldier's sacrifice by using his brain before sending them into death.

Obama should listen to McChrystal.
If the USA is in a war, we should win it. We used to win wars, but that's not a PC goal anymore: now we have to talk about "nation building" or some other benign goal for those who attack us.
What happened to our guts?

no....absolutely no...we need to stop sending troops and involve talibans up there...ok...fix health care with public option...just involve local nations around there....stop sending more troops...to afganistan, and bring back troops from iran...idiot Bush did enough....senate, do not be idiots...and failures, just pass this health care with public option...do not play politics...you lose like humiliationg defeat...like Mccain...ok

Obama always hops that in time the people and emotions subside. He believes that we are stupid.

Maybe we are based on the results of 2009. Everyone hated Bush and blinded by that they did not persoanlly vet Obama. It was obvious to the learned what Obama would do once elected.

We are a sad bunch. We are lead around by the nose by the media and refuse to think for ourselves.

The Bush Solution: "Oh man, forget 40000, let's send 100000, but let's leap without looking and send them in without any sort of logistical plan for how they'll be used and no guarantees that their bases will be safe."

The Obama Solution: "Let's listen to all of the options, get recommendations from a bunch of different sources, and ensure that we know what we're doing before we make any rash decisions."

And people are complaining about the Obama Solution? Seriously?

The only direct involvement taxpayers have in this decision is to pay the tab. Whether or not the President is taking to long is a question you need to ask those in the trenches.

From a taxpayer's standpoint, I support our men and women in uniform. If they are being asked to fight, then no resources or decisions should be spared that helps them win.

re your headline: DUH!

Don't listen to anyone except the GENERALS....they have the experience....

Yes he is!!! Iam not for war but he needs to play a decider for once. this is not healthcare so it cant sit and wait without any real idea what his veiws are he needs to decide. and whats with Bill going to the senate . I like Bill but were are all the people yelling if we voted in the real presidentail figure (Hillary) we would just have that adulter running around the whitehouse. well guess what people looks like we got that part anyway. should of benn Hillary.

Obama should ignore public opinion on this one. Yes, he should be advised by his generals on military matters, but a successful campaign begins and end with a political solution. The military only serves to achieve that end. Afghanistan was completely bungled by the Bush administration and now Obama's task is far more difficult. Just throwing more troops into a country like Afghanistan is not the answer.

Those 49% should be the ones to go Afghanistan when the decision is made and fight on the front lines....I bet then they would appreciate the thoughtful deliberations being made......This includes Dick Chenney, Carl Rove and company plus the FOX channel spokes people that are in favor of haste.....

And for the 50% that feel he is doing the right thing, they should enjoy this day of honor for our troups that are or have been in harms way.

It is so easy for people to say go when they do not have any of their own flesh in the battle......this is a serious moment for AMERICA....

The short answer is yes. Obummie is looking for any way to cut and run because he is spineless. He said this is the war of necessity because he didn't want to admit that the surge in Iraq worked. He used Iraq as a whipping post against the repub's. Not that he has to deal with the problems, he is hiding in the closet trying to vote present. Get a backbone and do what you say or don't say anything.

I can admire & understand OUR President wanting to "think this one over" to get it right. However, you cannot drag your feet either. There is just so much input you can take and then you have to make your decision. I am a 23yr. Ret. Army Viet Nam vet.. I do not support these conflicts/wars, but DO support our brave and magnificent military! It is long overdue for ALL of our troops to come home and put an end to this bush/cheney disaster.

Congress needs to take all the time in eternity to come up with meaningful health insurance reform. Just because people are dying daily from lack of care...

Throw soldiers and money at Afghanistan. It doesn't matter that everone from alexander to the Soviets have failed there. The geography and demographics make it impossible to win without killing all Afghans and turning their mountains into radioactive pillaqrs. That's RED WHITE AND BLUE, THE YANKEE DOODLEST thing according to the morons.

How do you graduate from college with a degree in journalism and still exhibit your lack of intellect – get a good haircut and go into teevee.

Yes he is taking to long, he has the facts. He should read them listen the the ground generals and respond. Lives are lost and he can not make a decision. Hillery was write he has no experience with military and handling real problems. Waiting is a bad and acting to fast.

No, after eight years of failing to find bin laden (our original reason for being in Afghanistan) the President needs to make sure no more American lifes are lost needlessly.
Oh yeah, we can thank the shrub and darth vader for not sticking to this war and going into Iraq.

There is a limit on hpw long the decision should take, but careful consideration is not bad. Wish Rumsfeld had allowed a careful study of how many troops were needed to control Iraq after the invasion.

Critics, our President need our support as a country. As Americans, our country and children's future are at stake, we should sitting on our hands amd find common grounds in the name of nation building. This coming together should not be done only to fight wars that are nonprofitable to true Americanism. Globally, our actions as a country reflects weakness and divisionism. "Show me the people and I will know their leader, show me leader and I will know his people." Is this the true attitude of the all powerful America?

even as commander-in-chief, obama can't seem to make a decision about anything. obama's strength seems to lie in the ability to deliver great speeches but he is not a man of action. he should consider that old saying of, "lead, follow or get out of the way" and apply it to himself and his administration.

What a stupid poll. CNN just trying to fill up the 24 hour news cycle.

We will find out if he is taking to long by the results of his decision.

Not at all Little "Bush" took 8 years... now every1 wants to go full steam at the real and always has been real problem .. hmmmmmm

He may take time to decide, but for real reasons of policy and military thinking purposes, not for political and personal purposes.
It is not known what is this delay about... but we will eventually know.