Obama to brief lawmakers on Afghan strategy review Tuesday

bigtree

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Mon Oct-05-09 01:58 PM
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Obama to brief lawmakers on Afghan strategy review Tuesday

(AFP) � 39 minutes ago

WASHINGTON � US President Barack Obama will Tuesday brief leading lawmakers on the White House policy review about Afghanistan as the administration mulls whether to commit extra troops to the conflict.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday "the president will brief the bipartisan, bicameral leaders of Congress, and committee chairs and ranking members on our Afghanistan review here at the White House."

The afternoon talks will "walk them through where we are in (the) process and solicit their views," Gibbs added, cautioning it was not because Obama has made a decision on sending extra troops to Afghanistan.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hLmFq_bIeJvBi8Qfr2BxUEi8qfNA

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thunder rising

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Mon Oct-05-09 02:25 PM
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1. It ain't pretty. I think goal of the briefing is to lower expectations

Basically, the only plans on the table call for major retreat.

Here's a pretty good account of the situation:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/5/789673/-The-Afghanistan-strategy-choices-in-the-face-of-looming-defeat:-refocus,-retreat-and-escalation

McChrystal wants to withdraw to a point where he can meet the "golden ration" of 50/1. And Biden wants to draw down to a few bunkers

I've got an idea. Let's draw down, tell the the Taliban in no uncertain terms that the last 7 years should be a lesson to them, and get the hell out of there.

Like, if you don't want us to come back ... leave us alone. IDK, could work.

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bigtree

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Mon Oct-05-09 03:05 PM
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2. the plan, I think

. . . will be to split the difference in troop requests and label most of them 'training forces' to 'build' the Afghan army to a point where they can eventually draw down without any major political static. I hold out hope the president will present a plan for a much more decisive move away from defending Afghanistan against every specter of al-Qaeda anyone can conjure there.

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