Secret Report Urges New Afghanistan Policy (Stabilizing Region - Rather Than Boosting Democracy)

[sabra]

Source: CBS News/Politico

Politico: Pentagon Will Recommend U.S. Focus On Stabilizing Region, Eliminating Insurgency, Rather Than Boosting Democracy

(The Politico) The Pentagon's top military officers are recommending to President Barack Obama that he shift U.S. strategy in Afghanistan - to focus on ensuring regional stability and eliminating Taliban and al Qaeda safe havens in Pakistan, rather than on achieving lasting democracy and a thriving Afghan economy, officials said.

The recommendations to narrow U.S. goals are contained in a classified report by the Joint Chiefs of Staff that is likely to be shown soon to Obama as part of a review of Afghanistan strategy announced by the new administration.

Obama is expected to announce later this week his decision on a request for additional forces from the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. David McKiernan. Several officials said they expected the president to approve sending three additional combat brigades to Afghanistan, totaling roughly 10,000 to 12,000 troops.

But a decision by Obama about whether to approve a more far-reaching shift in U.S. objectives in Afghanistan will be made later as part of the strategy review, the officials said. In addition to the Joint Chiefs, Obama will hear recommendations from Gen. David Petraeus, in charge of U.S. Central Command, and from Richard Holbrooke, Obama's civilian envoy to Afghanistan. The review is not expected to be completed for several months.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/03/politics/politico/main4771546.shtml?tag=main_home_storiesBySection

[HopeHoops]

1. Wow - A unique idea for the Middle East - stabilize it instead of bombing it! Who would have thunk?

[aquart]

2. Finally.

I have a Greek friend who had her ticket for Kabul...but an Afghan minister she knows called her and told her NOT to go, security is too bad, even in Kabul.

Now she's planning to go in March.

[laststeamtrain]

3. Pentagon study: US should pare Afghanistan goals

Source: AP

Pentagon study: US should pare Afghanistan goals
By ROBERT BURNS and PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writers – 48 mins ago

WASHINGTON – A classified Pentagon report urges President Barack Obama to shift U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan, de-emphasizing democracy-building and concentrating more on targeting Taliban and al-Qaida sanctuaries inside Pakistan with the aid of Pakistani military forces.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has seen the report prepared by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but it has not yet been presented to the White House, officials said Tuesday. The recommendations are one element of a broad policy reassessment under way along with recommendations to be considered by the White House from the commander of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus, and other military leaders.

A senior defense official said Tuesday that it will likely take several weeks before the Obama administration rolls out its long-term strategy for Afghanistan.

The Joint Chiefs' plan reflects growing worries that the U.S. military was taking on more than it could handle in Afghanistan by pursuing the Bush administration's broad goal of nurturing a thriving democratic government.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_afghanistan

[Tempest]

4. Is this from the same clowns who said we should stay in Iraq?

So they want to keep Afghanistan unstable, and at the same time destabilize an nuclear country?

Brilliant!

Those asshats need to be fired, NOW!

[Oregone]

5. The US needs to leave that country the hell alone already

[KakistocracyHater]

6. there is no stability if people are starving to death

even over here, in the U.S. we now have women reduced to robbing banks; there is a reason why Bonnie & Clyde were held up instead of hated.

Berlin food drop, nothing else will work. Remember the military route only has a 7% success rate, it's diplomacy & detective/police actions that work-police NOT military, key difference.