Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops

CBS Exclusive: Sources Say Force Will Grow to 100,000 with Long-Term Stay Planned; White House Denies Report

(CBS)  Editor's note, 9:57 p.m. EDT: The White House has issued the following response to this story, attributed to White House National Security Advisor James Jones:

"Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false. He has not received final options for his consideration, he has not reviewed those options with his national security team, and he has not made any decisions about resources. Any reports to the contrary are completely untrue and come from uninformed sources."

Tonight, after months of conferences with top advisors, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for Afghanistan. CBS News correspondent David Martin reports that the president will send a lot more troops and plans to keep a large force there, long term.

The president still has more meetings scheduled on Afghanistan, but informed sources tell CBS News he intends to give Gen. Stanley McChrystal most, if not all, the additional troops he is asking for.

Special Report: Afghanistan

McChrystal wanted 40,000 and the president has tentatively decided to send four combat brigades plus thousands more support troops. A senior officer says "that's close to what [McChrystal] asked for." All the president's military advisers have recommended sending more troops.

But they also have warned that troops alone will not win the war unless Afghan President Hamid Karzai cleans up his government.

"He's got to take concrete steps to eliminate corruption," Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said last week. "That means you have to rid yourself of those who are corrupt. You have to actually arrest and prosecute them."

The first combat troops would not arrive until early next year and it would be the end of 2010 before they were all there. That makes this Afghanistan surge very different from the Iraq surge, in which 30,000 troops descended on Baghdad and the surrounding area in just five months.

Related stories:

Karzai Vows to Tackle Corruption, Cronyism
Opinion: Afghanistan: Obama's First Domino
U.S. Troops to Afghanistan: A Waiting Game
Obama Eyes Smaller Afghan Troop Option
On Afghanistan, a Decision Comes Slowly
Obama Nears Decision on Afghanistan Troops
Obama: I Won't Rush Afghanistan Decision

Fred Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute says a slow motion surge will produce slow motion results.

"If they're going to be sort of trickled in very slowly over the course of a year than it's unlikely to have a very decisive impact in the course of 2010," he said.

The buildup would be expected to last about four years, until McChrystal completes his plan for doubling the size of the Afghan army and police force.

With 68,000 Americans already there, the Afghan surge would mean there would be 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan by the end of the president's first term.

The president is not expected to announce his decision until after he returns from China the week before Thanksgiving.

[mikey1018]

wat?! this is BS man!! he promised in his speech that he'd get the troops outta there!! thats the reason some people voted for him in the first place and now he pulls off this kinda s**t?!

[Vetproud]

Amazing. No matter what acts of terror are perpetrated in the name of Islam its always the fault of Western civilization and Chrstianity (via nutty conspiriacy theories that are baseless). The appoligists for Islam that enjoy the freedom of speech that is a Western Christian tradition continue to work to undermine the civiliztion that protects them. As for the Muslim community...plenty of protests over a few harmless cartoons yet silence when it comes to 9-11, London bus bombings, train bombings in Spain etc..etc. Noloyalisti...have your grand-daughter fitted for her burka.

[noloyalisti]

This whole Afghanistan fiasco (it is only a fiasco for the troops and the taxpayers) is about the military-industrial complex controlling the heroin and other money laundering operations for the big corporations.

That is why the puppeteers had their puppets, the Bush Crime Family, instigate the fraudulent War on Terror. What a bunch of ignorant, sorry, sad suckers we are.

[50BMS13]

noloyalisti
AND THE MOON IS MADE OF CHEESE!

[noloyalisti]

And Bush told the truth

And global climate change is a hoax

And 911 was done by Afghani terrorists

And Fox News is news channel

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Empire-George,
Of particular significance was the donation of US-made FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, which caused a small increase in aircraft losses of the Soviet Air Force.
Courtesy of Wikipedia.com. And thanks to the good folks who work there round the clock, the information is true and not edited.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

And if you may recall, due to your apparent I.Q. you probably don't, the Afghans have the ability to duplicate the technology ever since they've had it in there hands.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Come On Empire-George, give me a piece of your mind. You don't know what I know and don't know so you can't say anything about it. I found you a source and now you can't even own up and say you were wrong. What's up with that?

[fariborzzak]

please pay more TAXES.

[Vetproud]

You don't have to say please. Obama will make it madatory in short order.

[stychokiller]

In order for Afghanistan to be considered a failed nation-state, it would have to have been a successful one in the past. Since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Afghanistan has been nothing more than a collection of fiefdoms. It's a miracle that the Taliban was actually able to pull the country together at all. I say abandon Afghanistan and invite Iran to rule the area. That should keep the Persians busy for quite a lonnngg time! Kill two birds with one stone for once.

[noloyalisti]

The War on Terror is a fraud. Created by the Bush Crime Family neocons for political and financial gain. The laid it all out in the PNAC document and ignored ALL the warnings for 911. If they did not plan and carry out the attacks themselves, they were FULLY aware of it and let it happen.

[50BMS13]

noloyalisti
ANT THE MOON IS MADE OF CHEESE

[PaGuy1960]

whether you want to admit it or not.. Unless of course you listen to Hillary, there is still a war on terror going on and probaly will be for the rest of our life times.

[sandy19731]

I understand that it was phrased this way by the last administration. But, you really can't have a war on an emotion. It needs to be on a group of people, so shall we call it radical islamism? Or, what/who exactly are we fighting? Surely no-one expects terror to sit down and sign a peace treaty.
I think we are actually chasing criminals and that requires a police action not a war.
Sending our troops overseas and then having them return fire with anyone who engages them is really a poor way to engage in warfare.

[50BMS13]

UNITED STATES of AMERICA vs. ALLAH (simple as that)

[PaGuy1960]

It is very funny toi see the linbs back pedal.. Obama hasn't pulled anyone out of Iraq, he hasn't as of yet put any troops in afghanistan.
He hasn't closed gitmo and the reason is because when you run for office you don't get all the Intel. But now that he's there he understands or for that matter is forced to see what really is going on. It's easy to make a promise, it's another story to keep it.It's funny that when the truth punches you in the face how quickly you wake up.

[velma179]

by PaGuy1960 November 11, 2009 4:01 PM EST
It is very funny toi see the linbs back pedal.. Obama hasn't pulled anyone out of Iraq, he hasn't as of yet put any troops in afghanistan.

*********

It's not so funny to see someone like you post something patently untrue.

Obama has already sent 21,000 troops to Afghanistan earlier this year.

And yes indeed -- troop levels have been decreased in Iraq (I KNOW people who have come home or been reassigned!)

As for Gitmo -- not closed yet! The order is for it to be closed by January. True, that may be difficult because of the political backlash regarding where to house the detainees and certain legal issues. But blaming that on Obama is wrong... he isn't the King, after all... he doesn't say "do it" and Congress says "yes, SIR"!

[Imlistening]

Great comment. Yes, it is quite different; peeping through the keyhole and actually being in the room. Idealism has a vey short shelf life once you expose it to reality.

[Empire-George]

by hungry1968-17 November 11, 2009 3:27 PM EST
Geez Joe, this isn't even a credible challenge:
______________

what does a rocket propelled grenade, have to do with a vintage 1980's stinger missle ? I hope you know the difference between a grenade and a missle ???

it's not a challenge, when you are dumb and liberal with no clue about military hardware like yourself....we never supplied Soviet/Chinese Build RPG's, and you can't find any modern report about a stinger being used against 2009 forces.

Wrong again lib, try again ?

[Empire-George]

by Empire-George November 11, 2009 3:37 PM EST

Make sure you are talking about what we are discussing.....USA supplied weapons, not any weapon from that era.

Don't read part of it, and think you know what we are debating....you don't

U.S. supplied weapons from the 80's have not been used against our current forces.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

What's the matter Empire-George? Can't think of anything to say? Do not argue with me, you will lose.

[Empire-George]

by RedWings_ninety_one November 11, 2009 1:21 PM EST
What's the matter Empire-George? Can't think of anything to say? Do not argue with me, you will lose.
___________________

You don't know anything, you watch TV and think that gives you permission to "pretend" that outdated 1980's weapons (in this case shoulder fired missles) still existed and were actually used against our current forces, 20-30 years later......the fact is...you can cite no credible evidence, that attacks have occurred against our forces, using weapons from the Afghan/Russian war.....absolutely NOTHING.

Have these been used against us since 1980 ? most likely, but years ago, not now..........those stingers were expended or fired/consumed many years ago......so keep watching TV....after all Military TV is all you watch......LMAO at you.

[hungry1968-17]

Geez Joe, this isn't even a credible challenge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/160th_Special_Operations_Aviation_Regiment_%28United_States%29

"Afghanistan, 2005: Eight Night Stalkers were lost along with eight Navy SEALs on a rescue mission for Marcus Luttrell, after their MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hit by an RPG (rocket propelled grenade). They were sent out to look for Luttrell after Operation Red Wing, which he was undertaking with three other SEALs, went horribly awry after their presence was revealed to the Taliban, presumably by goat herders."




The 160th SOAR was THE elite aviation unit, that provides aerial support and transportation for ALL of America's special forces, and THEY were shot down by an RPG.

Perhaps you should turn off the Fox News? If you did, you would have noticed that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan weren't conducted very well from 2001 - 2008. Fortunately, we've turned that page......

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Empire-George,
The only reason that we helped the Afghans is the fact that we were still in the middle of the cold war. If you do not recall, we didn't like the Soviets very much.

[jaydee102]

the "Christian" armies in countries like Liberia and some other African nations have made fame for themselves by hacking off the arms of children in villages through which they rampage. The "ethnic cleansing" of Kosovo was entirely religion-defined; it was "Christians" murdering, terrorizing, and genociding their Muslim fellow-citizens. In the US, hundreds of "Christian" hate groups regularly engage in bombing campaigns, planned murders, and other terrorist acts. Look ALL OF THIS up and learn the truth. The idea that the violent and murderous side of Christianity is "in its distant past" is one of the BIGGEST LIES currently promoted by xenophobes, conservatives, and other American Taliban sympathizers. "Christianity", as practiced by its most ardent and extremist accolytes, is every bit as violent and murderous as Islam, or any other religion. All the right-wing lying in the world can't change that.

[alanrobisch]

As you well know these are not christian actions. There is a quotation from the bible where many will say believe but when it comes to the judgement God will not know them. violence in the name of anything is used. I guess the communists who killed in the name of comunism were right. True believers in Christ do not use violence. People can call themselves anything but the truth is only known by God. Muslims actually have in the KOran the statement that violence in the name of Allah is acceptable. Christ did not speak this way

[In-God-We-Trust]

There are no Christian armies that are performing such horrendous acts of violence. There are muslim groups that are claiming to be christian to defame the priorities and of the United States and true Christian agendas. God is our leader and lies and infounded stories that bash God only remove the thin vail that covers up the lies spewn about God his followers.

Pray for the people that love to hate, love to lie and love to committ sins.

[androidboy]

The problem is that so much of Christianity is wrapped up in the Old Testament and Paul's letters. Christ has taken a backseat in the Christian movement.
Jaydee102, I would like to point out that Buddist monks light themselves on fire to fight injustice. Dualism is what justifies violence against others. Good must be upheld and Evil put down--thus the killing.
Seeing things as they are, without judging them as good or bad is hard, but I'd suggest it to anybody.

[ekucrew]

Where are the mass protest marches by Make Peace Not War crowd from 2005-2008? Now there will be troop reduction in Iraq but buildup in Afghanistan.

Susna Sarandan? Martin Sheen? Cindy Sheehan? Code Pink? Anyone?

[50BMS13]

They all have egg on their face. They supported a pro-muslim administration. Now muslims are terrorizing us. Obama will have 100,000 troops sent to Afghanistan. He took down Guantanimo so that the terrorists would have equal rights as Americans do. He pulled the plug on wire tapping terrorists. He apologized worldwide to muslims for the past administration. Now after kissing muslim a** and praising Islam, his hands are tied. This administration is powerless because he bet the farm and his presidency on PRO-MUSLIM and it has come back to bite him in the a**. He bet it all and rolled snake eyes folks. All his high profile supporters recognize this and are running. With all this pro muslim apologetic politically correct campaigning style administration distarcted, Iran and N Korea go Nuclear. ***QUIZ*** What do you get when you have> Nuclear Iran + Nuclear N Korea + pro-muslim US Government? = mushroom cloud over Times Square New York NY (date?????)

[P0STING_AWAY]

by 50BMS13 November 11, 2009 1:09 PM EST
They all have egg on their face. They supported a pro-muslim administration. Now muslims are terrorizing us. ...............
-----------------------------------------------------------------
People like you put the - NUT - in Right-Wing-NUT-Job.

[element51]

50BMS13....What the hell is it that you want? Do you want America to be in a constant state of WAR or do you want peace? You rant against a President who has inherited the biggest mess in history and accuse him of everything your little pea brain can dream up but you offer NO solutions at all. What's up with that? Put on your Limbaugh ears and tune in to Faux News so you can justify your stupidity. It is far better to remain silent and appear stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[50BMS13]

element51
You haven't seen many of my posts or you would know what I want. Bring the boys home from ALL lands. Secure our Nation and shores. Take out the Nuclear facilitys in North Korea and Iran. Use B1 bombers with GPS guided smart bombs to do this. Use drones to look for radicals and Osama. Stop this president from kissing muslim a** and apologizing for our great country the United States of America. Now you have some ideas what I want. What is so wrong about that?

[velma179]

by 50BMS13 November 11, 2009 10:24 PM EST

"Now you have some ideas what I want. What is so wrong about that?"

1 -- So, you suggest we leave the GIRLS there?

2 -- Your military strategy is ridiculous and patently WRONG. You actually think there would be NO reaction... and I don't mean from the countries you want to "bomb"...?

3 -- Nobody with a scintilla of objective reasoning has seen President Obama's actions as "kissing a**" -- YOU obviously don't understand the merits of dialogue and diplomacy. And by the way, yes America is a great country... but by no means, a PERFECT country.


IMO... element51 pretty much had your number... spot on

[50BMS13]

velma179
Oh yeah, leave the girls. Your just stupid. And you are right, let Iran get the bomb. We never need to worry about that. And you're right, I guess bowing to King Fahd wasn't kissing muslim a**. You must be a teenager. Idiot.

[velma179]

50BMS13...

No, not a teenager... but I know several that show greater intelligence and grasp of facts than you do.

Do you have ANY reading comprehension?

Where did I say Iran should have a bomb? I said just "blowing up their nuclear facilities" as you suggested is ridiculous! There are OTHER countries in the world that would not stand for that, for example Great Britain, Russia, Pakistan... you see a trend here -- the countries that also have nuclear capability.

And as for President Obama bowing to King Fahd? That is scary... since Fahd has been DEAD since 2005!

Before he died GW Bush called him "my friend and ally" and he pledged support to the [current]new King Abdullah... who he not only actually kissed (!) he also walked around holding hands with him.
(I don't fault either president for their actions, by the way... just a few FACTS)

So, who is stupid 50BM...? And who is an idiot? Not me...

[50BMS13]

velma179
You got me on the Kings names (my bad) I'm actually impressed with your comment. You are right about Bush there. I just want all the troops home and get so darned frustrated that these desert wars go on and on. We need to get Osama and we need to watch out that guys that hate America don't become nuclear armed. Obama is a REAL nice guy. I mean that. But I think that he tries to please too many people and that can come back to haunt you. We need to simplify our problems because it isn't a perfect world and we are better off doing a few things right than a bunch poorly.

[PaGuy1960]

funny how the Obama band wagon has less and less people aboard... Humm... what a shock.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

by Empire-George November 10, 2009 1:43 PM EST
by RedWings_ninety_one November 10, 2009 1:39 PM EST
Read the comments I just posted to the other comment.
________________

I read it all, and think you are just tossing nonsense around, like you know....you don't
__________________________________________________________________
The hell I don't, I pay attention to things. The Military Channel is one of the only channels I watch. DO NOT tell me what I know and don't know.

[Vet_Turner]

Obama, if you send in all 40,000, plan on a lot of us not voting next time. It is a mess and even with 200,000 troops, in 10 years it will still be the same mess or worse. They hate us. The window closed for making progress years ago.

[mikey1018]

i completely agree!!

"Obama, if you send in all 40,000, plan on a lot of us not voting next time."

thats the reason most people voted for him this time in the forst place!!!

[Self_evident_truth]

Osama Bin Laden deserves a special place in hell. One can hope that it's a collection of Muslims that prove instrumental in betraying him. Like the Unibomber, wouldn't it be great if his brother turned him in?

What a great waste this jihad mentality is precipitating. Proven, good governance vs. dark, vacant, genocidal power grabbers indoctrinated by religious exclusivity. Oh well, after this one is squashed, they'll be another. It never ends. Some grim satisfaction though from being part of killing a thing so vile.

[50BMS13]

What about his 72 virgins? Doesn't he get 72 virgins? Or is that a false teaching?

[gramto8]

by 50BMS13 November 11, 2009 5:13 AM EST
What about his 72 virgins? Doesn't he get 72 virgins? Or is that a false teaching?
________________________________________________

Sure, but nobody says they are all female......

[50BMS13]

gramto8
LOL thank you

[keister7]

by Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01 November 10, 2009 3:14 PM EST
See Mortarman's response. He beat me to the punch.

By the way, the Muslim population in this country is one of the most law abiding and docile.

Muslins are the most abiding group in our country??

Actually the Koran instructs them to be that way... Until they get to be in the majority. Then they are instructed to "kill the infidels"

So... What is your point?

[writer10]

by keister7 November 10, 2009 10:16 PM EST

By the way, the Muslim population in this country is one of the most law abiding and docile.

LOLOLOLOL!!!! Yeah...And Ft Hood is a proven fact of your comment???

[krmopilci]

Problem is not in Muslims.It is in your greediness.Forget about imperialism and start working.

[YrStillWrong]

Catholicism in Thomas Aquinas' version brought Aristotle back into European thought. Christianity in its humanist versions gave Europe the Enlightenment, and in its Deist versions gave North America the first secular republic. When the various Muslim creeds do likewise, the world will take notice.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

by Letricdoc November 10, 2009 6:02 PM EST
noloyalisti,

Christianity can not be linked to Fascism.
=============================================================

Oh yes it can. Witness the Crusades. Oh, and the witch hunts that were pervasive, not only in Salem, but all throughout Europe for three centuries. Did I mention the Pope used to be the ruler of the Roman Empire?

[phillysmart]

Doyou realize you are talking about ancient history....Islam is a primitive religion that hasn't met the modern world thats why it needs to be defeated

[Letricdoc]

By today's definition, it can not. As stated before, Fascism is related to EXTREME right-wing ideology, and in today's society around the world, Christianity is on both sides. If you want to infer that the definition has changed, get in touch with Webster's or Wikipedia and get the definition changed from being related to an ideology to being related to Christianity. Christianity may have been totally extreme right wing hundreds of years ago, but please, bring yourself back into today's world.

[In-God-We-Trust]

The exagerated story of the whitch hunts and crusades does not prevent anyone today from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There were three times more people killed at Ft. Hood than at the witch hunts in history.

We are all sinners and will go to hell if we don't have forgiveness for our sins. The only way to receive forgivness is to accept Jessus Christ and allow him to take the punishment for our sins.

Others can committ sins of homesexual lifestyles, stealing, adultry, etc and YOU can still be saved from the punishment of your sins.

John 3:16 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Go to the following link for more information.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203:16&version=NIV