Afghanistan

Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:42 AM by firstread
Filed Under: White House, Security, Joe Biden

What is the first step on the road to recovery if you are an addict: first admit you have a problem or something like that? Well, Afghan pres. Karzai is at least acknowledging there was SOME fraud in the election there but he also said the results were fair. Well, ok then!

The New York Times has a good profile of the role VP Biden is playing in this debate; it includes its share of criticism of Biden.

The question of whether corruption will derail the efforts of any increased number of troops in Afghanistan is being debated in the White House. “On Tuesday, one U.S. military official said discussions within the Obama administration are ongoing about whether it is even possible to "surge" enough troops to overcome the corruption and how crucial a legitimate government in Afghanistan is to the overall war strategy."

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Comments

AC Orn (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:47 AM)

FR--What is the first step on the road to recovery if you are an addict: first admit you have a problem or something like that? Well, Afghan pres. Karzai is at least acknowledging there was SOME fraud in the election there but he also said the results were fair. Well, ok then!
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Sounds like BS to me.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:49 AM)

"Well, Afghan pres. Karzai is at least acknowledging there was SOME fraud in the election there but he also said the results were fair."

Hamid Karzai...thanks, President Bush!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:50 AM)

That is the standard for a typical Arab country. Their has to be "some" fraud in an election, before it can be "fair."

gepa (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:53 AM)

Recovery also entails that not only that you have a problem but that you are powerless to stop. That sounds right in regards to what's happening in Afghanistan that we can not seem to stop letting history repeat itself over and over again. We do not learn from our past and continue to repeat same mistakes ad nauseum.

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, FL (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:55 AM)

Therein lies the problem--where will we find these "surge" troops. The right seems to forget that issue; the Cheneys, Bill Kristols and others like him are quick to demand war and quick to want more troops sent yet none of them has ever spent a day in the military. McCain should know better but apparently he doesn't care--victory at all costs. Our military is exhausted, personnel have spent two, three or more tours either in Afghanistan or Iraq. I applaud President Obama for ignoring the critics and being deliberative in this important decision rather than make a knee-jerk decision. Those criticizing him have no right to do so because they are the ones who left Afghanistan to "muddle" through which McCain felt was adequate--afterall, Iraq waited.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:56 AM)

This is the discusion that should have happened a long time ago. We started with a clear mission. That has changed. We need to redefine the mission and make sure we are meeting the parameters. Rules of engagement, manpower issues, etc will flow in a clear line down the chain of command once you have arrived at that point. That is the part the military is really good at once the civil side takes care of their part.We can then more clearly evaluate the success or failure of the methods from this base.Just don't keep changing it on a daily schedule and don't micro-manage it.

INdependent Redneck Va. (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:00 AM)

Let GWB make the right decision.

Baby Barack still doesn't know what the hell to do.
Still mistified.

Louisiana CoCo (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:10 AM)

Right on Jody! The righties always talk quien es mas macho but are the first to find some lame excuses why they themselves chose not fight in the past. That includes Limbaugh, 5 deferment Cheney and Daddy got me out of it Shrub Jr.

Juan,Ft Lauderdale,Fl (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:18 AM)

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