Obama: Afghanistan Decision within Weeks

President Vague about when he Will Respond to General's Request for Thousands More Soldiers

(CBS/AP)  President Barack Obama says he will make his decision on new U.S. troops for Afghanistan in "the coming weeks."

Mr. Obama told reporters Tuesday that decisions on the military front are important but are just one aspect of the improvements needed to the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. He said an important element is building up civilian capacity, to help improve Afghanistan's governance, agriculture, rule of law and other areas.

The president took questions after meeting at the White House with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Mr. Obama has met twice with his war council to discuss new tactics in Afghanistan. One of those meeting came after he received Afghanistan commanding Gen. Stanely McChrystal's formal request for a troop increase.

Related: McChrystal on "60 Minutes"

Mr. Obama has ruled out withdrawing from Afghanistan, or significantly drawing down forces by shrinking the focus of the war to a narrow counterterrorism effort.

CBS News Special Report: The Road Ahead
Special Report: Afghanistan

Mr. Obama announced in March that he would be sending 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. But the Washington Post reported today that, in an unannounced move, the White House has also authorized - and the Pentagon is deploying - at least 13,000 troops beyond that number, according to defense officials.

The additional troops are primarily support forces, including engineers, medical personnel, intelligence experts and military police. Their deployment has received little mention by officials at the Pentagon and the White House, who have spoken more publicly about the combat troops who have been sent to Afghanistan.

The deployment of the support troops to Afghanistan brings the total increase approved by Mr. Obama to 34,000. The buildup has raised the number of U.S. troops deployed to the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan above the peak during the Iraq "surge" that President George W. Bush ordered, officials said.

The war has claimed nearly 800 U.S. lives and sapped American patience. Launched after the terrorist attacks to defeat the Taliban and rid al Qaeda of a home base, the war has lasted longer than envisioned.

[cinoti]

Maybe a pipe dream, but if Russia and China, (neighbors) were to
help in firming up Afghanistan, it could be a real game changer.
Let's get more countries involved, Every country has an interest
in stopping terrorist. The U.S. and Britain should not be the only
countries paying the freight. World powers have an obligation to
help. They should be invited to help and if they do not, they
should be shamed as "paper tigers" and as feckless actors. Short of
that, the U.S. cannot afford to, and should not, do it all.
Stop the world from "sponging off America". Its time.

[decotoguy]

Here we go folks,the great METAMORPHOSIS of Barack Obama.The Military,
and Government Officials(I preferably call them,WEASELS,and CORRUPT
SWINDLERS)initiate Barack Obama into the ART of government.
So off we go into a world of WAR and more WAR.
I just hope enough of your Knuckle-Head and Numb-Skulls children
volunteer to die for these Weasles and Swindlers,so real young kids can grow up with good MORALS,and live for PEACE...

[Mortarman29]

Did anyone explain to Obama that his number one job, and the one that actually is in the Constitution, is his role as CiC? Maybe a little less time spent on things he isnt supposed to be involved in (healthcare and health coverage, running autmobile companies, etc) and a little more being the commander of the armed forces!!

[worldcitizen1]

Keeping the peace is the presidents #1 job, not fighting! We have nothing to "win" in Afghanistan, but much to lose. It takes much more intelligence and wisdom to avoid war than to fight one.

[jefleshman]

world

No his number 1 purpose it to protect and defend our (USA) National Security and Interests.

Here is some more pearls of wisdom. He who does nothing and sits by watching from the side line thinking terrorism is a made up conspiracy and they are safe from it gets plans flown into the World Trade Towers and Terrorism comes knocking on the front door! You can either bring the cause to the enemy or the enemy will bring the cause to you over and over and the next thing you know having a child being suspended will be the fatherest from your mind.

[picklepants7]

what's so sad is that obama has spent more time talking to david letterman than gen. mcchrystal. also, how is sending more troops going to effect his status as a nobel peace prize winner?

[bubbadubba]

Mr. President, while you are thinking over Afghanistan, how about ordering the DOJ to investigate, charge, and prosecute futures traders and the oil company executives under RICO and 20+ other price fixing, monopoly, and trade law violations?
"Oil prices neared new highs for the year Tuesday" 10/13/09
Until our government works for us instead of the wealthy we will NEVER get out of this DEPRESSION.
Each time we think things are better the oil companies jack up prices to bring us down again.
WHERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ENFORCING OUR LAWS?
WHERE?

[salmoc44]

9-11 was planned in Spain and Germany and trained for in the United States. Invading Afghanistan didn't make us any safer. But, it's a great way to waste money and funnel it into war contractors for big profits. It's a heist to the taxpayer and it must continue if the heist is to continue.

[salmoc44]

The Taliban has been defeated,"
Condi Rice
Meet the Press 2002

"With the Taliban eliminated and al-Qaida badly damaged, we have moved into the second stage of our war on terror."
Condi Rice
April 2002


"And as a result of the United States military, Taliban no longer is in existence. And the people of Afghanistan are now free."

George Bush
Sept. 2004

[salmoc44]

As I told Republicans I know back in 2002, "We will never win in Afghanistan".

There's nothing to win.

[Mortarman29]

There never is in the world of libs.

[salmoc44]

8+ years after invading, and 7 years after the Bush Admin declared victory in Afghanistan, the war hawks want to send more troops there.

The Taliban has been defeated,"
Condi Rice
Meet the Press 2002

[Tomasgolfer]

The question is not if Obama is going to escalate this mess of a "war". He just authorized another 13,000 poor souls to the slaughter today. As long as sen.fienstein and her ilk continue to rake in the millions directly from this "war on terror (or whatever they're calling it now), these endless wars will never end. Traitors...

[salmoc44]

We spend nearly 3 times the GNP of Afghanistan a year right now just to fund the process of losing in Afghanistan. Obama already sent thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan and casualties have risen. I'm sure the GOP sees this careful consideration by Obama as weakness. Careful thought is considered a bad thing to Republicans. They like a guy who just invades countries without a plan and who can look a Russian leader in the eye and instantly read into his soul. And, let's not forget that Bush declared that the Taliban had ceased to exist over 5 years ago.

"And as a result of the United States military, Taliban no longer is in existence. And the people of Afghanistan are now free."

George Bush
Sept. 2004

[endurorob_5]

It took him no time at all to get his massive spending bill passed but on this he will take his time? He told the generals in the spring what the strategy wold be and when they tell him how many more troops they need to work that strategy he hems anhaws about it. meanwhile the troops are in limbo.

[USA_is_back]

GW Bush IGNORED Afghanistan for 8 years - you know "cut and run" - to start a war in Iraq based on lies. Never once did you complain about him taking too much time.

[Mortarman29]

So, Obama gives his plan back in the Spring for Afghanistan, issues the orders, puts in a new General (McChrystal) to administer it. Then the plan doesnt work, the General asks for more troops and a plan that will work, and the CiC says what? Oh, "it'll take us a few weeks to decide."

It is almost like he hasnt been following along, or hasnt listened during his daily/weekly updates from his commanders in the field. Oh wait, I forgot...he hasnt been getting those updates because he hasnt wanted them.

Well, it all makes sense now!