Obama Weighs Troop Increase in Afghanistan

Give these young men & women all the help they need, and do it now.

The same defeatest that said Iraq was another Vietnam, and wanted us to leave immediately are now in charge of our government. God help us!!!!!

sal altavilla of NY 3:40PM November 27, 2009

Get the troops out of there the cost financially, physically, mentally etc is to high.

joe derosa of CT 7:16PM November 24, 2009

The war in Afghanistan is one of just insuring that terrorists are repressed. This is a phenomena of the modern world. Sadly, they cannot be entirely eliminated. Obama was the clear preference in the last election not just because he best expressed the desire for change but also was the best organizer. Now the challenge moves on to implementing change and success requires a practical and realistic administration, in short, a pragmatic executive department. Here the media, public, adversaries and supporters are left wondering.

Any description like pragmatic or empathetic will be fought over and picked apart. Those with a historical vantage point and acceptance that at bottom, human nature is flawed and at the same time continually adapting, try to figure out how to forecast the future.

Try this analogy. The judicial functions (courts and law enforcement) have by their nature to be ahead of the legislative and executive branches. Courts, lawyers and police have to have their feet on the ground on individual cases. There is no time for partisanship. They have to go by existing laws but also make pragmatic applications. These actions and decisions require respect from the participants and clear explanations of the decisions being made. When mistakes are made they can be appealed. Usually corrected and overall accepted.

On the other hand, the political branches are continuously open to corruption, ideology and hysteria. But as progress is slowly made, it is through the type of pragmatism that first exists in the judicial system. Obama is trying to bring pragmatism to the executive branch and it will be a difficult process, but someone with a judicial mind of the highest sophistication is the best likely to succeed.

The public needs to know that there is a process ongoing to cut costs, casualties and insure stability. This is not a war that can be lost with a pragmatic approach but the media and opponents will raise fears to make their points. The Obama administration, especially the military leaders, need to lead the public with clear and convincing details of what they are doing. And this means down to the level of how the Afghanistan government is being helped and doing its part. The specific negotiations as to how the help they are getting will produce results. The public needs to be informed that there are specific tribes in Afghanistan who have never really participated in running their country. Inundate the American public with information, through C-SPAN, etc, about the daily goings-on. Right now there are very fragmentary, distorted reports of the progress. It is not enough to report that Secretary Clinton is satisfied with the promises of the Afghanistan government.

It is very likely that Obama will succeed, if he sticks to his method.

Leonel of TX 12:18PM November 23, 2009

ITS NOT RIGHT FOR THE BRAVE MEN OVER THERE FIGHTING FOR THERE COUNTRY NOT TO HAVE THE TROOPS THEY NEED. EITHER GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED OR GET THEM THE HELL OUT. THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE SACRIFICING THERE LIVES AND LEAVING BEHIND FAMILIES THAT ARE DEVASTATED. PLEASE ENOUGHT IS ENOUGH BRING THEM ALL HOME I BEG YOU !!!!!!!!!!

GARY HINRICHS of NC 10:09PM November 20, 2009