In this morning's
Post,
Bob Woodward reports that
General Stanley A. McChrystal's report on the US effort in Afghanistan includes an urgent call for more troops. The report was delivered to the Pentagon on August 30 but Woodward's article is -- I think -- the first official summary of its content. According to Woodward, McChrystal is quite blunt in warning about the possibility of defeat:
He repeatedly warns that without more forces and the rapid implementation of a genuine counterinsurgency strategy, defeat is likely. McChrystal describes an Afghan government riddled with corruption and an international force undermined by tactics that alienate civilians.
Michael Crowley, at
The New Republic's website (
here), says that the balance of considerations is becoming increasingly dicey for President Obama:
It's an awfully uncomfortable spot for Obama to be in. During the campaign he spoke often--albeit usually in the context of Iraq--about heeding the advice of his commanders on the ground. Now he's in a position where he may not want to accept it.
In this morning's Post, Bob Woodward reports that General Stanley A. McChrystal's report on the US effort in Afghanistan includes an urgent call for more troops. The report was delivered to the Pentagon on August 30 but Woodward's article is -- I think -- the first official summary of its content. According to Woodward, McChrystal is quite blunt in warning about the possibility of defeat: