Afghanistan: The Road Ahead

(CBS)  President Barack Obama and his top Afghan war commander, Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, met privately aboard Air Force One on Friday. At issue is Obama's looming decision on what strategic course to pursue in the region.

Gen. McChrystal maintains that additional troops, up to 40,000, are needed within the next year or else the conflict "will likely result in failure." Some advisers are counseling the president to avoid a troop surge, and instead focus on eliminating al Qaeda leadership and applying U.S. forces to bringing the Afghan military up to speed. In addition, public support is for the war is waning.

At this crossroad, on the cusp of the eighth anniversary approaching of U.S. forces fighting the war in Afghanistan, the CBS Evening News will broadcast a three-part, in-depth examination of the conflict called, "Afghanistan: The Road Ahead," airing October 5-7.

Katie Couric will lead the expanded coverage with reporting and analysis from Afghanistan by CBS News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan, National Security Correspondent David Martin and Foreign Correspondent Terry McCarthy.

We hope to provide deeper insight into the challenges facing the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan, and answer some key questions, such as:

• Having won the first round of the war in Afghanistan, how did the United States allow the Taliban to fight back to where, some have argued, they are winning?

• Has the war in Afghanistan reduced the threat of terrorism on U.S. soil and against U.S. interests?

• Do the new counterinsurgency plans actually have a chance of success, even with many more American soldiers sent in?

• Would a pull out - while saving American military lives and money - increase the likelihood of terrorists getting control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons?

CBSNews.com will have complete coverage of the "Afghanistan: The Road Ahead," including additional material found only on the Web.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

[jefleshman]

Questions from the article.

Has the war in Afghanistan reduced the threat of terrorism on U.S. soil and against U.S. interests? ANSWER. I do not think it is the only reason but one cannot argue the ZERO attacks in US soil since 9-11. We are in the right area. And whether US Citizens like it or not it is keeping the terrorist at bay. Unfortunately Afghanistan has been an economy of force mission and at no time properly resourced.


Do the new counterinsurgency plans actually have a chance of success, even with many more American soldiers sent in? ANSWER. ONLY if it is 100 percent backed by congress. If not then it is more of the same. We try to work with what we have.


Would a pull out. while saving American military lives and money. Increase the likelihood of terrorists getting control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons? ANSWER. YES YES YES. I hope the American public and the citizens around the world understand this. Terrorism is real and not a game. They want to kill all westerners not just Americans. Freedom is something the Terrorists FEAR. The leaders of 42 other nations understand this and have also risked their most precious resource as well. Men and Women from their country.

Just my thoughts thank you for reading.

[JGArmy]

This is the first time I have watched an entire piece of coverage by Katie Couric. Normally her sarcastic tone and facial expressions make it difficult to believe I am listening to balanced and complete coverage. I am very impressed with her team's treatment of the topic and, for the first time, a depth of coverage that indicates acknowledgment of American Citizen intelligence. Well done. I am looking forward to Tuesday's broadcast.

[SunDog8259]

I have been watching CBS too lately. Historically there has been a dearth of news coverage from Afghanistan. Now, suddenly the reports have been excellent.

[benhorn]

Will the CBS stories feature experts who support an immediate withdrawl from Afghanistan? I fear that the media will once again report only one side of the story, i.e. in support of war. Did we learn anything from Bush/Iraq?

[sjc_1]

If the Afghan people really wanted to be rid of the Taliban, they would be determined and their army would be ready to do that. I do not get that impression.

[stuart-johns1]

Neither do I. And the more we aid in the training of their Army, the more they turn and join the Taliban and fight against us. This situation is way out of control.

[sjc_1]

I don't know if many of them are joining the Taliban, but it seems like their hearts are just not in it. Some of the troops I have seen look like they are collecting pay checks instead of preparing to take their country back.