Tag Archives: War

The White House Doesn’t Get Afghanistan

In the aftermath of Abdullah Abdullah’s withdrawal from the second round of the presidential race in Afghanistan, we get the following from the Obama Administration:

The Afghan Non-Election

Whatever else the official line from various governments–including our own–might be, the fact of the matter is that the withdrawal of Abdullah Abdullah from the second round of presidential voting in Afghanistan means less legitimacy for the Afghan government.

Pakistan

The tragedy unfolding in the country presents a ridiculously complex challenge for the Obama Administration; one that can’t be solved with any policy silver bullets. As if the politics of the country were not bedeviling enough, violence in Pakistan has skyrocketed to tremendous levels:

Jamie Fly Is Right

John Kerry was for supporting the war in Afghanistan . . . before he was against it.

Abandoning Afghanistan

Via e-mail from Dan Spencer comes evidence that the Obama Administration is going to let Afghanistan twist in the wind:

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:

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:

- March 20, 2010 -

MORE LEDGER

ELSEWHERE ON TNL

DAILY READS

MARKETS & POLICY

The WHIP

HEGEMON

CHEQUER BOARD