How Will Afghan Violence Affect Obama's Decision?
On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, David Sanger of the New York Times said he thinks President Obama’s decision on whether to send an additional 40,000 tropps to Afghanistan is likely be “divorced” from the recent violence there.
“The president has got to decide how much he lets a big strategic decision get affected by incidents that have been quite horrific over the past few days… I suspect he will divorce himself from” the violence he told moderator Bob Orr.
He explained that Mr. Obama might be stepping in political hot water should he announce a troop increase – especially from his own party.
“The problem here are the Democrats much more than the Republicans,” Sanger said.
CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante also weighed in on the show about the president's surprise trip to watch the remains of fallen soldiers arrive at Dover Air Force Base last night.
“I think they were trying to show that the president was willing to confront the reality of what’s going on on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq in a very solemn way,” Plante said.
Later in the program, CBS News’ National Security Analyst Juan Zarate echoed Plante’s point. “I think that was an important moment for the President and it shows that he is obviously focused on the issue in a concrete way.”
Watch the full show above.
Analysis: On Afghanistan, a Decision Comes Slowly
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
“The president has got to decide how much he lets a big strategic decision get affected by incidents that have been quite horrific over the past few days… I suspect he will divorce himself from” the violence he told moderator Bob Orr.
He explained that Mr. Obama might be stepping in political hot water should he announce a troop increase – especially from his own party.
“The problem here are the Democrats much more than the Republicans,” Sanger said.
CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante also weighed in on the show about the president's surprise trip to watch the remains of fallen soldiers arrive at Dover Air Force Base last night.
“I think they were trying to show that the president was willing to confront the reality of what’s going on on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq in a very solemn way,” Plante said.
Later in the program, CBS News’ National Security Analyst Juan Zarate echoed Plante’s point. “I think that was an important moment for the President and it shows that he is obviously focused on the issue in a concrete way.”
Watch the full show above.
Analysis: On Afghanistan, a Decision Comes Slowly
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
