New York Times: Military Establishment Frustrated With Pace Of Obama's Deliberations On Afghan War

New York Times:

After nearly a month of deliberations by Mr. Obama over whether to send more American troops to Afghanistan, frustrations and anxiety are on the rise within the military.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[wordvarc]

There's nothing to decide but when and how to leave.

Only if the Afghans ask, train an Afghan peace keeping force.

Leave bigmouth traitor McCrystal in charge with his grandiose special ops. claims from the past year.

[sixpm]

Does anyone recall that similar headline, "Military Establishment Frustrated With Losing Over 4000 Comrades in Pointless So-Called War"?

Thought not.

[SoCalDaveO]

No more pretense.

So what does our commander in chief do now with the war he once declared had to be won but had been almost criminally under-resourced by Bush?

Perhaps provide the resources to win it?

You would think so. And that's exactly what Obama's handpicked commander requested on Aug. 30 -- a surge of 30,000 to 40,000 troops to stabilize a downward spiral and save Afghanistan the way a similar surge saved Iraq.

That was more than five weeks ago. Still no response.

[Fein]

Well then,I guess we need to continue the war to circumvent 'frustration and anxiety' within our military.

Actual combat must be relaxing, according to NYT logic.

[voltage356]

War is a Racket. Maj General Smedley Butler


http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

[lobear00]

Wow' if everyone bought into the "Propaganda' of the Military there would be just to many "Fools" living in america!
Propaganda is key in starting and maintaining any kind of Armed Conflict. the trash that comes from the military complex is just that. The Bible tells us "you cannot serve two masters! you have a choice, but you cannot have it both ways. There is something to ponder here.

[pipetoe]

Thank good McKrystal went to the press like he wasn't supposed to.

[Cantab81]

Do it right, or bring them home. Don't leave our men and women in harms way while you campaign ,BHO.

[AwShucks]

That's right President Obama.

Take your time.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YET WHO THE REAL PRESIDENT OF AFGANISTAN IS.

Don't Rush into anything over there like Bush did.

[pipetoe]

I can just imagine the frustration; especially if I had a kid over there right....

[DrToketee]

I've been saying this for months - and a lot of Americans still can't see it.

President Zero-bama won't make a DECISION, just makes speeches. He is a COWARD. Look around - what has he done? Sign bills that Congress fought hard to pass WITHOUT his leadership. Do townhalls. Take trips to foreign countries and talk to leaders. Won't take a real stand for real health care reform. He won't ever say the phrase "Medicare for All", even though that is what over 60% of the American people desparately want.

But actually make a DECISION and thereby become ACCOUNTABLE for it? He's scared to death to do it. Consequently you should expect damaging or worthless compromises everywhere in any "progress" he achieves.

[luvangelHussein330]

Rushing and not listening is what got us in this mess in the first place. I would rather he do what he said he was going to do which is consult with all leadership involved, make sure we have string partnerships in afghanistan and iraq for them to start fighting this war on thier own then send our troops in there half cokced.
If you don't know all of what the President has done then you haven't been paying attention and probably never will it's so much easier to siton the sidlines and make assumptions.

[AwShucks]

When was the last time you picked up a gun and stood on guard to protect America ?

The President is NOT a Coward.

He is a deliberate, thinking man.

Unlike that last fool who got us into all of this was.

[Tidyus]

He has the courage not to make a phony decision or be rushed into a decision by the likes of people like you.

[Truthahn]

Nearly ONE month of deliberations? Try nearly TWO months. McChrystal sent the White House his 66-page report with troop-strength recommendations on August 30th. Today is October 20th. Just a few days ago Robert Gibbs said the President is still "a few weeks" away from making a decision. Assuming no further delays, by the time Obama actually makes up his mind it will be about THREE months since McChrystal's report landed on Obama's desk. How can you fight a war with a Commander in Chief who is so hesitant and unsure of himself? Let's get our troops out of that awful place. Even with a strong Commander in Chief the war would be extremely difficult to win. Barack Obama's flaccid leadership makes winning an impossibility.

[Ravenback47]

The only thing that's flaccid is between your legs.

[georgewetherill]

No. Your leftwing idealism is flaccid. This country is going down the shi$$er fast.

We cant take 3 more years of a President in campaign mode.

Lets get to work and do whatever it takes to support our troops.

[Truthahn]

If you put me in the White House at least I'd have enough sack to make a timely decision about our troops in harm's way. You can't say that about the nutless wonder who currently occupies the Big Chair.

[mcantwell]

Have you not been paying attention to the situation concerning run-offs in the Afghan Elections?

More importantly, maybe you didn't read recently that Gates has already stated that the Earliest any additional troops and equipment can logistically be routed to Afghanistan is sometime in January.

Furthermore, last weeks article that I read here on HP that quoted the Military, made it clear that there are not even enough troops to send that will meet McChristal's request.

[Truthahn]

Ah, the elections. That's rapidly becoming every Democrat's go-to excuse for waffling on Afghanistan. I can't wait til the election situation gets sorted out. What will be the next excuse for Wafflecrats?

[Tidyus]

IT is wonderful!. Have you noticed? There has been no fighting gong on. Maybe if he just keeps finding a way to stall his decision, we'll have peace. Super!

[Fred Hood]

Wars they benefit the few rich, Rockefeller made 200 million on the world war. It is basically a way to They take our tax money while the brain washed few shout support our troops....­.even if its killing them.

I know reading about and understanding this war is complicated. You must get beyond the "support our troops" mentality. I support our troops and was a volunteer during Nam 69-72 but it is much deeper than that. I have found a video that explains the facts of this and other wars. If you want the truth about war, if you can be open to the facts of war watch this please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dmPchuXIXQ&feature=related

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BRING THEM HOME SO THEY CAN LIVE......­..

[OliverTwist]

You can buy a nice shirt made in Vietnam these days. In fact quite a bit of clothing sold in the US is made in Vietnam.

Seems good to me.

It would have been nice if we had achieved the same without bothering with all that needless killing and dying.

[mcantwell]

Gates has already stated that the Earliest any additional troops and equipment can logistically be routed to Afghanistan is sometime in January.

Furthermore, last weeks article that I read here on HP that quoted the Military, made it clear that there are not even enough troops to send that will meet McChristal's request.

[Truthahn]

January is 10 weeks away. Tick tick.

[OMG1109]

Love the caption: Military Establishment Frustrated With Pace Of Obama's Deliberations On Afghan War

So if the Military Establishment is Frustrated With Pace Of Obama's Deliberations On Afghan War, what does that say for BUSH/CHENEY who stated this war and did nothing in 8 yrs to WIN the war?

This is nothing but another political attack on Obama! If BUSH and team had given an ounce of thought (as Obama is attempting to do) before he invaded IRAQ, who knows, this war could have been over YEARS ago, on the BUSH watch, you know, the WAR ON TERROR!!

[escomments]

How is that relevant to soldiers over there now dying because of his indecision. He's had ten months to come up with a strategy. Either give McChristal the troops he needs now, or get us out of there!

[Ravenback47]

If President Obama sent 100,000 troops over there, they would still be dying. Haven't you been paying attention to what's going on over there? Obviously not since you just made that idiotic comment. We've seen this picture before. Keep escalating the troop strength and soldiers still die by the dozens. It amazes how people have a selective memory and conveniently forget the last eight years. Where were all of your protestations back then. Just admit that you are just opposed to President Obama and you are making things up that aren't factual. At least people would have more respect for your opinions if you just admit your bias.

[slowhand0728]

It's not at all and in a couple of years using the Bush excuse will get old. Already starting to see it with the economy, you can BLAME people all you want but everyone wants to know what this administration is doing TODAY, now to make things improve. and so far little evidence of it on either front.

[Truthahn]

The military has every right to expect Obama to move faster than Bush. Until recently Obama's rhetoric about the Afghan war was quite clear. Over and over again he said Afghanistan was a war of necessity and he pledged to properly resource this war which had been criminally under-resourced by the Bush administration. The military only expects Obama to live up to his promises.

[luvangelHussein330]

as it was stated last week President Obama wants to make for sure that we have Afhganistan has string leadership so they can take over thier own battle before we commit more troops.

[OliverTwist]

He argued for a counter terrorism effort not a counter insurgency effort - which is what McChrystal seems to be pushing. I was suprised that he let the military reform his ideas to suit their notions and just as suprised that McChrystal, who was tauted as a counter terrorism guy decided to go with a counter insurgency strategy that seems more like Patreaus than McChrystal. President Obama may be getting back on track.

[Tidyus]

He sees stuff he didn't see before and hasd the right to change his mind.

[MacQ]

Any afghan previously friendly to soldiers is now thinking twice, as they'll have to deal with whoever takes over. They might even think they need to establish their cred by killing a few Americans.
Dithering at the top has a cost. It is unconscionable.

[OliverTwist]

I thought the President was perfectly clear that actions beyond the additional re-enforcements just sent required clarification of the political situation. The military leaders need to stop holding temper tantrums like little babies because they arn't getting everything they want when they want it.

Those military who are want to conquer and occupy Afghanistan were told to stop the political manipulations. Their views are out there. There are other views and other strategies that don't require the same resources.

If soldiers wind up getting needlessly killed because General McChrystal has a fit of malicious compliance then those deaths will be on his head and no one elses.

A general who is clearly insubordinate or engages in maliscious compliance or issues vieled threats needs to be removed.