On "Face the Nation" on Sunday, National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones said it was "hypothetical" that al Qaeda would return to Afghanistan if the Taliban were to regain control. Today on Washington Unplugged, CBS News' Washington Bureau Chief Chris Isham called that a "stunning comment" from Jones."To say it's hypothetical is wishful thinking," Isham told Washington Unplugged host John Dickerson. "It certainly was not hypothetical in 2001 when we went into Afghanistan initially to expel al Qaeda."
The administration may argue that al Qaeda is interested in exerting global influence while the Taliban is focused on Afghanistan, Isham said; however, the two groups are interconnected and dependent upon one another in many ways.
CBS News' Chief Political Consultant Marc Ambinder said Jones' comments reflect an attempt from the White House to neutralize both sides of the debate over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan. President Obama has yet to say whether he agrees with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, America's military commander in Afghanistan, that troops should be increased, even though he promised during his presidential campaign to listen to his generals.
"Right now, quite frankly, Gen. McChrystal pretty much has all the cards," Ambinder said. Administration officials are "trying to give the White House a little bit of leverage in public opinion."
Washington Unplugged airs live every weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Watch today's episode, above, to hear Isham and Ambinder discuss Afghanistan, Iran and health care, and to catch a clip on Sen. Chuck Schumer's health care messaging.
Unplugged: Obama Adviser's Afghanistan Comment "Stunning"
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"To say it's hypothetical is wishful thinking," Isham told Washington Unplugged host John Dickerson. "It certainly was not hypothetical in 2001 when we went into Afghanistan initially to expel al Qaeda."
The administration may argue that al Qaeda is interested in exerting global influence while the Taliban is focused on Afghanistan, Isham said; however, the two groups are interconnected and dependent upon one another in many ways.
CBS News' Chief Political Consultant Marc Ambinder said Jones' comments reflect an attempt from the White House to neutralize both sides of the debate over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan. President Obama has yet to say whether he agrees with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, America's military commander in Afghanistan, that troops should be increased, even though he promised during his presidential campaign to listen to his generals.
"Right now, quite frankly, Gen. McChrystal pretty much has all the cards," Ambinder said. Administration officials are "trying to give the White House a little bit of leverage in public opinion."
Washington Unplugged airs live every weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Watch today's episode, above, to hear Isham and Ambinder discuss Afghanistan, Iran and health care, and to catch a clip on Sen. Chuck Schumer's health care messaging.