This month marks the eight-year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. After eight years and 800 American lives lost some say the situation is now deteriorating. CNN.com reporter Kristi Keck states in her article, Humility needed in Afghanistan commander says, “The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Thursday the coalition in the war-torn country is going to have to do things ‘dramatically differently, even uncomfortably differently’ in order to succeed.”
The President’s Response
Gen. Stanley McChrystal is the leading commander is Afghanistan. He recently asked President Obama for an additional 40,000 troops. The President has been weighing this decision, and is considering other options as well. According to Foxnews.com the president will meet with his war council Wednesday for another session on Afghanistan strategy. Some reports, like Foxnews.com, state that Obama may send only 10,000 troops instead of the 40,000 requested.
The Lingering Problem
McChrystal initially asked for the additional troop support on Sept. 21, 2009 according to the nytimes.com. Senator John McCain has weighed in on the issue telling the president, “that he should not move at a leisurely pace” at an event held in the State Dining Room according to a report at Foxnews.com. The website also reported that the President was quick to respond to that comment by saying, “No one felt more urgency than he did about the war, and there would not be nothing leisurely about it.”
Changing Obejectives
Some officials seem to think that the war and its leadership has lost sight of the original goal. When asked of Gen. David Petraeus what his aseement of the situation was CNN.com reporter Kristi Keck quotes the commander as saying, “I think it always appropriate to go back to what's the mission, and what it is that we want to accomplish, and that is what is being discussed now.”
What About Public Opinion
The Afghan people had great expectations during the onset of the war. McChrystal said, “Afghans are frustrated after eight years of the most recent war because in 2001 their expectations skyrocketed. Along with the arrival of coalition forces, they expected a positive change.” In a country that knows little more than war they were hoping that this military action would bring profound change. McChrystal went to say that the average life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44 years, and the country has been in one war or another for more than 30 years. That leaves very few living people with pre-war memories.
In the Unites States public support for the war is waning. A recent AP GfK poll shows that current support for the war is 40 percent which is down from 44 percent in July. The poll goes on to illustrate that the support, or lack thereof, is divided strongly down political party lines. Sixty-nine percent of self described Republicans support the additional troops, while Fifty-seven percent of Democrats oppose the increased offensive.
Winning In Afghanistan
The one certain issue is that the United States cannot be perceived as losers of this conflict. Winning decisively is the only option. A Washington Post editorial states, “There should be no mistaking, however, what the stakes of this conflict are. Whether or not al-Qaeda regains its pre-9/11 haven, a Taliban victory would be a catastrophe for the United States and its allies.” Losing would mean both Pakistan and Afghanistan are safe havens for al-Qaeda.
Sources:
CNN.com
Foxnews.com
www.AP.com
Washington Post
nytimes.com
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