[S]enior White House officials challenged [McChrystal] over his dire assessment of the war, and what it will take to improve the U.S. position there, during a videoconference from Kabul with President Obama and his national security team. Obama then summoned McChrystal to Copenhagen the day after the general's speech for a private meeting aboard Air Force One.Well now, that's the spirit! If you don't like the answer given to you by your military advisor, then just tell him to go back to the drawing board and bring you a different answer--excuse me--alternative. The Administration has had its hands on McChrystal's report for weeks, yet it still has not figured out what to do with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. Commiting more troops to the effort would be unpopular, but failing to commit more troops would mean the continued resurrection of the Taliban, the fall of the current government, and a renewed safe haven for al Qaeda.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," [Obama National Security Advisor James] Jones said he had not spoken to Obama since the president met with McChrystal. But he indicated that the Obama administration, facing the most far-reaching foreign policy decision of its time in office, expects McChrystal and his military superiors to broaden the range of alternatives for how best to proceed in Afghanistan as the strategy review unfolds over the coming weeks.
Will President Obama choose to lead, or will he cave in order to please his liberal base?
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"Last week the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, called publicly for the administration to add more resources, which prompted a MILD rebuke from Obama's national security adviser, James Jones, for lobbying in public.
Obama may take WEEKS (all while we are losing more troops...8 just this weekend) to decide whether to add more troops, but the idea of pulling out isn't on the table as a way to deal with a war nearing its ninth year, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said.
The fighting Saturday marked the biggest loss of U.S. life in a single Afghan battle in more than a year. It also raised questions about why U.S. troops remained in the remote outposts after McChrystal said he planned to close down isolated strongholds and focus on more heavily populated areas as part of his new strategy to focus on protecting Afghan civilians.
Also being considered as part of a potential force increase is the impact on troops who are already stretched thin from fighting in two wars. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told reporters that he cannot rule out extending the length soldiers are sent to fight — from 12 months to 15 — although "I would hope we don't get there."
Casey also signaled that the year that soldiers are currently guaranteed at home between deployments could be at risk.
"Simple math: The more troops you have deployed, the less time they'll spend at home," Casey said Monday.
So, our "Commander in Chief" has how much military experience?
"As a first-term U.S. senator, he also has little formal experience in foreign policy, although he has lived abroad, spending part of his childhood in Indonesia."SHIRA SCHOENBERG, The Concord Monitor. Hmmm. I spent a month in Europe. Wonder if someone would allow me a few weeks to put a military plan together and present to congress and Gen. McChrystal? Oh, my dad was in the military, too. That certainly meant something to Obama's election!. . .Even if he can't get his grandfather's military service facts straight.
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