November 25, 2009 8:37 PM
- Text
Obama Expects Support for Afghan War Plan
(CBS/ AP)
President Barack Obama will announce his plan to bolster the war in Afghanistan in a speech Tuesday night, his spokesman said, a surge that U.S. military officials say could top 30,000 troops.
The president promised this week to "finish the job" begun eight years ago, and press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday the announcement would include an exit strategy. But the surge in troops would be Mr. Obama's second since taking office, and liberal Democrats already are lining up against it, in part because of the also-surging cost - up to $75 billion a year.
Gibbs said Mr. Obama's recent meetings with military advisers have often focused on how to train Afghanistan's police and army to secure and hold areas taken from the Taliban so that U.S. forces can leave. "We are not going to be there another eight or nine years," he said.
Gibbs said the president will argue that that kind of commitment would be "unsustainable" -- in terms of the numbers of Americans killed and wounded, and the monetary cost, which officials say is a million dollars a year for each additional troop, CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid said.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
Incompetence and corruption in the Afghan government have aided a rise in the Taliban's strength. The military strategy is expected to include specific dates that deployments could be slowed or stopped if necessary, a senior military official said. The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not final.
Mr. Obama will be speaking to a war-weary American public. Polls show support for the war has dropped significantly since Mr. Obama took office, with a majority now saying both that they oppose the war and that it is not worth fighting.
With Americans losing confidence in the president's handling of the war -- only 23% believe it's going well -- analysts say he must convince them that it will not become a quagmire, Reid reports.
"That we aren't simply going to throw resources, blood and treasure into Afghanistan until the end of time," said CBS News security analyst Juan Zarate.
The president and his top military and national security advisers have held 10 meetings to discuss America's future steps in Afghanistan. The top general in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, has asked the president for about 40,000 troops, arguing that a robust but temporary surge was the best way to end the war.
Administration officials said Mr. Obama has not made a final decision about the number of troops he would approve. Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the president's plans, said they expected the total to be between 32,000 and 35,000.
Analysis: Obama Goes with Head, Not Gut
On Tuesday, Mr. Obama predicted the American people will support his strategy once they understand the stakes.
"I feel very confident that when the American people hear a clear rationale for what we're doing there and how we intend to achieve our goals, that they will be supportive," he said, speaking at a White House news conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
McChrystal has warned that the war effort could fail without a large troop infusion. Although he preferred a higher figure - about 40,000 - McChrystal is expected to testify before Congress next week that this lesser number still gives him enough.
The expected increase would include at least three Army brigades and a single, larger Marine Corps contingent, the officials said.
Among others likely to take part in congressional hearings are Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry. All were among about 20 officials and advisers participating in the president's final deliberations Monday night - one of the biggest groups gathered for these sessions.
Obama, Democrats Likely at Odds on Afghanistan
The administration plan will have a tough sell among some congressional Democrats, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Democrat who has questioned the value of adding forces and pointed to the war's rising cost.
The Afghan war bill hit $43 billion annually this summer, with the addition of 21,000 forces Obama has already added to the fight this year.
Meanwhile, an official with the NATO-led force in Afghanistan concedes that the Taliban have gained momentum in their insurgency.
His comments come as the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, insists the insurgents have gained the upper hand and are winning the war.
Canadian Brigadier General Eric Tremblay says the NATO force needs to "slow them down." Tremblay says the militants are aware that progress is being made in the country with international support. He says that's why the Taliban want to undermine the government.
In his message, the Taliban leader urged Afghans to break off relations with what he calls "this stooge Kabul administration." Mullah Omar says there will be no negotiations that would prolong the presence of foreign forces in the country.
The president promised this week to "finish the job" begun eight years ago, and press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday the announcement would include an exit strategy. But the surge in troops would be Mr. Obama's second since taking office, and liberal Democrats already are lining up against it, in part because of the also-surging cost - up to $75 billion a year.
Gibbs said Mr. Obama's recent meetings with military advisers have often focused on how to train Afghanistan's police and army to secure and hold areas taken from the Taliban so that U.S. forces can leave. "We are not going to be there another eight or nine years," he said.
Gibbs said the president will argue that that kind of commitment would be "unsustainable" -- in terms of the numbers of Americans killed and wounded, and the monetary cost, which officials say is a million dollars a year for each additional troop, CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid said.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
Incompetence and corruption in the Afghan government have aided a rise in the Taliban's strength. The military strategy is expected to include specific dates that deployments could be slowed or stopped if necessary, a senior military official said. The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not final.
Mr. Obama will be speaking to a war-weary American public. Polls show support for the war has dropped significantly since Mr. Obama took office, with a majority now saying both that they oppose the war and that it is not worth fighting.
With Americans losing confidence in the president's handling of the war -- only 23% believe it's going well -- analysts say he must convince them that it will not become a quagmire, Reid reports.
"That we aren't simply going to throw resources, blood and treasure into Afghanistan until the end of time," said CBS News security analyst Juan Zarate.
The president and his top military and national security advisers have held 10 meetings to discuss America's future steps in Afghanistan. The top general in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, has asked the president for about 40,000 troops, arguing that a robust but temporary surge was the best way to end the war.
Administration officials said Mr. Obama has not made a final decision about the number of troops he would approve. Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the president's plans, said they expected the total to be between 32,000 and 35,000.
Analysis: Obama Goes with Head, Not Gut
On Tuesday, Mr. Obama predicted the American people will support his strategy once they understand the stakes.
"I feel very confident that when the American people hear a clear rationale for what we're doing there and how we intend to achieve our goals, that they will be supportive," he said, speaking at a White House news conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
McChrystal has warned that the war effort could fail without a large troop infusion. Although he preferred a higher figure - about 40,000 - McChrystal is expected to testify before Congress next week that this lesser number still gives him enough.
The expected increase would include at least three Army brigades and a single, larger Marine Corps contingent, the officials said.
Among others likely to take part in congressional hearings are Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry. All were among about 20 officials and advisers participating in the president's final deliberations Monday night - one of the biggest groups gathered for these sessions.
Obama, Democrats Likely at Odds on Afghanistan
The administration plan will have a tough sell among some congressional Democrats, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Democrat who has questioned the value of adding forces and pointed to the war's rising cost.
The Afghan war bill hit $43 billion annually this summer, with the addition of 21,000 forces Obama has already added to the fight this year.
Meanwhile, an official with the NATO-led force in Afghanistan concedes that the Taliban have gained momentum in their insurgency.
His comments come as the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, insists the insurgents have gained the upper hand and are winning the war.
Canadian Brigadier General Eric Tremblay says the NATO force needs to "slow them down." Tremblay says the militants are aware that progress is being made in the country with international support. He says that's why the Taliban want to undermine the government.
In his message, the Taliban leader urged Afghans to break off relations with what he calls "this stooge Kabul administration." Mullah Omar says there will be no negotiations that would prolong the presence of foreign forces in the country.
Popular Now in Politics
- Timothy Dolan: Birth control tweak a "first step"
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- CPAC: Santorum rips Romney, rouses conservatives
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
- Ann Coulter riles up the CPAC crowd
- Santorum: Women could bring "emotions" to combat
- Romney takes on hecklers at Maine town hall
- Archbishop Dolan urges Obama to back down on birth control
- Obama to announce revamp of birth control policy
- CPAC: Anti-Obama beats pro-Romney
- Santorum's big benefactor
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- Former Giffords aide to run for her House seat
- CPAC: Huckabee "thanks" Obama for birth control firestorm
- Romney says his conservatism will shine
- Report: Chicago cardinal joins contraceptives fight
- Is Rick Santorum conservatives' last, best hope?
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Money fund assets fall to $2.657 trillion
- Obama budget: New spending with recycled tax ideas
- Obama budget seeks to boost trade enforcement
- Obama budget seeks to boost trade enforcement
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
on CBS News
