White House: No Troop Decision This Month

By: Peter Maer
Topics: Afghanistan

(AP Photo/Michael Dinneen)

This story was filed by CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer.

A White House official traveling with President Obama to Asia said late Thursday that Mr. Obama's decision on future war strategy for Afghanistan is expected no sooner than the first week in December.

The official tells CBS News, "there is a sense of urgency to get it right," without rushing the announcement. The official also says the president will likely wait to brief top Congressional leaders until after the Thanksgiving recess.

In a further indication of the administration's thinking, the official says announcing an immediate surge of troops would bolster Taliban claims that the U.S. plans to occupy Afghanistan.

Above: President Obama waves as he disembarks Air Force One at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, Nov. 12, 2009.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

It's already been widely reported that any major U.S. troop build-up would not start until the spring.

The official also notes that any large-scale troop increase would let the Karzai government "off the hook" on the need to build Afghan military and security forces. The official said the president wants to convey a message to Hamid Karzai that he "can't take the U.S. role for granted."

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White House spokesman Robert Gibbs mentioned U.S. concerns about Afghan "governance" issues multiple times in a 15 minute briefing with reporters aboard Air Force One.

President Obama plans extensive talks on Afghanistan with the leaders of Japan, Russia, China, South Korea and other countries during his Asia tour, which begins Friday morning in Tokyo.

Behind the scenes, other foreign consultations are underway. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke is making the rounds in Paris, Berlin and Moscow to outline U.S. thinking about Afghanistan. National Security Advisor James Jones is in Pakistan on Friday. He will join the president later on the Asia trip.

Peter Maer
Peter Maer is a CBS News White House Correspondent.
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by endurorob_5 November 13, 2009 9:11 AM EST: Obama: "Let the troops in Afghanistan sweat it out. I don't have time to worry about that silly little war. I have trips to make and records to set. By the way, did you see my speach the other day?"

Aid: "See it? I wrote it."; Reply to this comment

by BeckieBest November 13, 2009 8:56 AM EST

Of course the right wing nuts would prefer that Obama continue to run the war the way their hero Bush did, with no strategy to win and no strategy to leave.

But our troops deserve a leader who takes the time to assess the best way forward and to assure that the mission is worthy of their sacrifice.

Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 13, 2009 9:16 AM EST: Get a clue beast. This has nothing to do with the best way forward or assurring the mission is worth the sacrifice. It is about politics and nothing more. It is about Obama not wanting to upset the "wrong" people. He has been given the best strategies by the experts and still won't make a decision.

by 50BMS13 November 13, 2009 8:11 AM EST

If the troop already in Afghanistan are not going to receive much needed reinforcement, then they should be coming home. All or nothing. Don't play games with lives when at war.

Reply to this comment


by 50BMS13 November 13, 2009 8:12 AM EST: troops (my bad)


by eiddam November 13, 2009 7:52 AM EST: No troops decision,---maybe Obama plans Genocide of the Swine Flu.
The United States had plans to use Biological weapons, from 1943 until 1969, so perhaps the idea has been thought of again, and we being used to test them out????? Slowly over the years we have seen tactics that were used once in Germany, and seems to be continuing.; Reply to this comment

by rickwar November 13, 2009 7:36 AM EST

Well lets see Bush deployed tropps on a lie and no matter how you sugar coat it or wrap the flag around it that's what he did.

But--if someone actually thinks about it IE:Obama OMG he's incompetent.

Sorry the real problem here is the war monger Right that always feels the only way is the military option. For those that don't know or didn't study the history the only ones who win in Afghanistan is Afganistan and just because we are the good old USA won't change that. It didn't in Vietnam and it won't here. Forgotten in all the hand wringing is how the their government and people will support what we are and have given them. No support and we lose.

I saw, lived through and served and did my share of enemy attrition in Vietnam, we lost. In our minds we were right, in fact we were not for all the wrong reasons.

The Right labors on in the failed policies of the Bush administration thinking.

Obama is right on target in his thinking (not to be confused with wavering)

Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 13, 2009 9:07 AM EST: Another liberal invoking Bush to defend Obama's inadequacies. By the way Obama has never been on target.

by erich_1-2009 November 13, 2009 7:34 AM EST

WWII, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War

President Roosevelt, Truman, and Johnson were all Democrats that wanted WWII, The Korean War, and The Vietnam Wars to start, continue, and escalate. President Truman used the atom bomb to stop the War with Japan. President Johnson was fulfilling the intentions of the Kennedy administration when he sent troops to Vietnam. President Roosevelt, Truman, and Johnson all listened to their Generals and escalated troop involvement when requested by their Generals.

Ever since 1968 the Democrats have been weak on defense!

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by 50BMS13 November 13, 2009 8:15 AM EST: erich_1-2009
Yes indeed. Carter's and Obama's administrations sure look similar. WEAK APOLOGETIC STAGNANT (except Obama is real good at spending money.)


by nowhiningallowed November 13, 2009 7:25 AM EST: Why should the president place any importance on this issue? He doesn't care about the troops anyway. His going to Asia to hit all of his own foreign haunts is much more important and will give him more face and mic time.; Reply to this comment

by PaGuy1960 November 13, 2009 7:13 AM EST

Obama is a clueless, imcopetent President. How can you not have a decsion yet. He has to stop playing this political game of BS and do something. This is embarressing.

Reply to this comment


by 50BMS13 November 13, 2009 7:23 AM EST: PaGuy1960
Very true statement.


by bubbadubba November 13, 2009 7:03 AM EST: ******** officials announced the opening Thursday of a new, 20,000-square-foot facility.
The 66-year-old company, is among the world's largest producers of the U.S. military's ready-to-eat meals. The third new facility cost more than $10 million. Workers there will design, prepare and package heat-and-serve meals packaged in microwavable plastic bowls and trays."

Just one little example of why we are still in Afghanistan, now multiply that times 100,000, imagine the profits going into the pockets of the wealthy, and it is all very clear.
The only winner of wars are the rich who profit.
Afghanistan-Nam- OUT NOW.; Reply to this comment

by bubbadubba November 13, 2009 6:51 AM EST

Well that's 40,000 American troops that won't be blown up by IED's for nothing.
As far as I am concerned the President can bring all the troops home on leave for a rest and then wait 100 years to decide if they should go back.
A crooked Afghan President that the people do not support, corruption, huge profits for American companies, Americans hated and not wanted, occupation with no exit strategy, a country where no one has ever invaded and won, in the real world that's called Vietnam.
In the right wing never served " I don't have to do the dying so I will talk tough" world " there never was a Vietnam.
I call it right wing dementia.

Reply to this comment


by velma179 November 13, 2009 10:54 AM EST: This is actually an excellent post.

The other so-called by the willfully ignorant, are merely agreement with the fearful and disbelieving... sad.