Tag Archives: Afghanistan

The Obama Administration Should Listen To Dianne Feinstein

She has the right idea on Afghanistan:

The Value Of Dissent From The Military

Kori Schake has an excellent post on why having the military speak out openly on the formulation of policy concerning Afghanistan is a good thing.

Is James Jones Just Completely Out Of Touch?

Yes:

Listening To The Generals

It cannot be emphasized enough that nowadays, the Obama Administration is committing the very same policy sins critics accused the Bush Administration of committing; failing to listen closely and respectfully to the advice of the military brass. Just examine what National Security Adviser James Jones said today:

Peter Galbraith On His Job, Electoral Fraud In Afghanistan, And The United Nations

This editorial should increase concerns about the U.N.’s incoherent response to what clearly appears to have been fraud in the recent round of presidential elections between the incumbent, Hamid Karzai, and the former foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah.

The Firing Of Peter Galbraith

In the event that you are not familiar with this story, Peter Galbraith, who was serving as the second-highest ranking UN official in Afghanistan, was fired over an argument with his superior, Kai Eide, the UN special representative in Afghanistan, concerning allegations of fraud in the presidential race between Hamid Karzai, and the former foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah. Galbraith was pushing for a tough statement on allegations of fraud, and the UN was holding back.

McChrystal Calls Out The Obama Administration

Behold. He disses the Vice President’s idea of scaling down the American military presence, and points out that we don’t have forever in designing and implementing a strategy.

Maybe They Should Have A Beer, Or Something

This issue has been discussed before, but it is worth emphasizing anew just how scary it is that the President of the United States does not talk regularly with his commanding general on the ground in Afghanistan.

Listening To The Generals

Recall that the Bush Administration was accused of not doing too much listening to the uniformed military. Now, read this:

McChrystal to Obama: More Troops Or I Quit!

On Afghanistan, as we so often have reason to say of Obama’s campaign rhetoric, that was then and this is now. And we are learning that listening to requests from his commanders for more troops is not Obama’s strong suit as Commander-in-Chief.

And Speaking Of Afghanistan . . .

Leslie Gelb of the Council on Foreign Relations properly excoriates Administration strategy:

A Stark Choice For The White House

Either give General McChrystal the troops he needs, or the general resigns.

- March 13, 2010 -

MORE LEDGER

ELSEWHERE ON TNL

DAILY READS

MARKETS & POLICY

The WHIP

HEGEMON

CHEQUER BOARD