InfoAnda - On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

CORRECTED | 2 February 2010
Philly officer accused of unauthorized Obama check | 8 August 2009
India's Essar Energy opens for all-investor trade at LSE | 8 May 2010

Sri Lanka: Dispute over gas price creates shortage | 20 December 2008

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot AFP - Sunday, October 4 Send IM Story Print On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot WASHINGTON (AFP) - – By openly declaring their views on the Afghan war, US military leaders have placed President Barack Obama in a bind as he faces a fraught decision over the troubled US-led mission. Obama has refused to quickly approve a request from his commanders for a major troop build-up in Afghanistan, insisting first on a full vetting of the current strategy. But while a war council takes place behind closed doors at the White House, top military officers have made no secret of their view that without a vast ground force, the Afghan mission could end in failure. "They want to make sure people know what they asked for if things go wrong," Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense, told AFP. As a result, if Obama chooses to change course in Afghanistan or decline a request for large numbers of troops, he will be rejecting the advice of the US military, raising the political stakes. Commentators on the left say the military ought to keep its advice private without trying to influence public debate, with New York Times columnist Frank Rich accusing the generals of an attempt to "try to lock him (Obama) in" on Afghanistan. Korb said the top brass is keen to avoid a repeat of the run-up to the Iraq war under former president George W. Bush, when military leaders bowed to White House demands for a small invasion force -- with disastrous consequences. Drawing on blood-soaked experience in Iraq, military commanders now fervently embrace counter-insurgency doctrine, which calls for large numbers of troops providing security and winning the trust of the local population. Amid rising casualties and a spreading insurgency, skeptics in Congress and the White House have floated proposals to freeze or even reduce the 65,000-strong force. But McChrystal and his superiors have dismissed such alternatives as half-measures. "You can't hope to contain the fire by letting just half the building burn," McChrystal told Newsweek. Top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen and the head of the regional Central Command, General David Petraeus, have publicly endorsed the manpower-intensive strategy set out in a report by McChrystal. The commander's stark assessment of the war, which was leaked, has set off a flurry of counter-leaks in US newspapers with unnamed officials in the White House voicing skepticism about esclating the American commitment. The heated debate over war strategy mostly pits hawks on the right demanding Obama promptly endorse the commander's request for more troops against voices on the left who raise the specter of a quagmire akin to Vietnam. Senator John McCain and other Republicans invoke Iraq, arguing the US military turned the tide there only after a "surge" of additional combat troops and tactics suited to irregular warfare. McCain has praised Bush for approving the surge strategy in late 2006, a move that was opposed by most of the US military leadership at the time. Dismissing calls by Democrats to hold off on a troop buildup until training more Afghan security forces, McCain said: "We've seen this movie before, it didn't work in Iraq and it won't work in Afghanistan." But the disputed election in Afghanistan, tainted by allegations of widespread fraud, has jolted the administration and renewed serious doubts about the credibility of the Kabul government. "Nobody expected it to go this poorly and that I think that has got people thinking," Korb said. The White House meanwhile acknowledged some members of Obama's team have been reading "Lessons in Disaster," a book about flawed decision-making in the Vietnam war. In the book, author Gordon Goldstein suggests the late president John F. Kennedy, if he had lived, would have rejected the military's demand for combat troops in Vietnam -- as he had lost faith in his generals' advice after the Bay of Pigs fiasco in Cuba. "Perhaps this is Obamas JFK moment," George Packer of the New Yorker wrote in his blog. "Well know in a few weeks." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Moderate earthquake hits off coast of Taiwan AP - Sunday, October 4 Hopes fade for Indonesia quake survivors Reuters - 2 hours 25 minutes ago Myanmar minister promises 'free and fair' elections AFP - Sunday, October 4 Afghan policeman fires on US troops, killing 2 AP - Sunday, October 4 Elliott, Vettori guide New Zealand into final AFP - Sunday, October 4 News Search Top Stories Berlusconi's Fininvest hit with 750 mln euro payment Credit crunch clouds uneven European rebound US rolls out massive swine flu vaccination campaign Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity Polanski agreed to pay victim 500,000 dlrs to end suit: report More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Four-winged dino may be missing link in bird debate Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins Rio to host 2016 Olympics as Chicago, Obama shattered Tongan banker rescues people, cash from tsunami Finance chiefs warn on recovery as G7 meets More Most Viewed » Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 4 October 2009
Mubarak urges Israel to start final status talks
Ireland backs EU treaty by 67.13%: final results
Polanski agreed to pay victim 500,000 dlrs to end suit: report
VW seeks to cut ties with Magna: report
Rescuers search for Siciliy mudslide survivors
UN atomic chief in Iran for talks on new facility
Sudan's Bashir runs for president despite warrant
Mubarak urges Israel to start final status talks | International |
Nigerian rebel leaders give up arms in amnesty deal | International |
Russia dam disaster blamed on Chubais, five others | International |
Afghan policeman fires on US troops, killing 2
Latest typhoon kills 4 in Philippines
Army bomb expert arrested over Sri Lanka blast
After 5 years, space tourism a work in progress
Village deaths to lift Indonesian quake death toll
Pakistani Taliban chief may be dead: US official
Administration eyes ways to help laid-off workers
Focus in Samoa moves from rescue to survivor aid
NM bookmobiles: Books for those without libraries
Pakistan: Anti-Taliban tribal elder fatally shot
Water canal sparks skepticism, lawsuits in Calif.
Typhoon Parma tears into Philippines
A town's love of Indian artifacts backfires
Hunts for Indian relics date to 19th century
Myanmar-American to get Suu Kyi lawyers
U of Ill. trustees OK president's resignation
Homes evacuated as fire threatens Williams, Ariz.
Police departments back anti-terror citizens watch
About 600 missing in Indonesia landslides: official
Quake landslides wipe out 3 villages in Indonesia
NATO still seeks strategy to counter Taliban
Ireland backs key EU reform treaty in second poll
Hopes fade for Indonesia quake survivors | International |
Sarkozy to be 'twittered' at climate summit
Credit crunch clouds uneven European rebound
Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity
US rolls out massive swine flu vaccination campaign
An SMS from Indonesia quake rubble a sign of hope
Russia blames top officials over hydro disaster
On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot
Kim woos China's Wen on rare visit | International |
Report says Iran has data to make atom bomb
Report says Iran has data to make atom bomb | International |
Iran's leader chides Obama over nuclear accusation
Typhoon kills 17 in Philippines | International |
Socialists set for comeback as Greece votes | International |
Israel's Netanyahu to undergo hospital tests | International |
Former Japan finance minister found dead | International |
Honduran leader, Zelaya inch toward crisis talks | International |
US NGOs concerned by Obama's Darfur envoy, policy
Moderate earthquake hits off coast of Taiwan
Hopes fade for Indonesia quake survivors
Myanmar minister promises 'free and fair' elections
Congress poised to act swiftly on Iran if needed
Mormon church to build 5 new temples worldwide
Elliott, Vettori guide New Zealand into final
Texas golfer dies trying to retrieve stray ball
Typhoon Melor begins move from Northern Marianas
NY man accused of tweeting cop actions at protests
Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch
7 wedding guests fall ill at NH reception
China factories short of workers in Christmas run-up
Nervous US retailers brace for critical holiday season
Japan must boost domestic demand: minister
Insurance man accused of stalking ESPN's Andrews
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Polanski agreed to pay victim $500,000: report
5.5-magnitude quake rocks eastern Indonesia: USGS
On UN mission, Bill Clinton promotes tourism in Haiti
100,000 protest for press freedom in Rome
Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity
Cuba lambasts US embargo after orchestra tour shelved
Hopes fade for Indonesian quake victims
Tour de force in tulle from Viktor & Rolf
Hurry or be sacked, Moscow boss tells Bolshoi contractor
Indonesia's 'unlucky' president takes quake blame
Polanski agreed to pay victim $500,000: report | Entertainment |
IAEA to inspect Iran nuclear site on October 25
T-Rex fails to impress Las Vegas bidders
Palestinians angry as Abbas drops war crimes case
IAEA to inspect Iran's Qom site October 25 | International |
Berlusconi's Fininvest hit with 750 mln euro payment
Eight US troops killed in Afghanistan
Gaza woman freed in last step of soldier-video swap | International |
Israel's Netanyahu to undergo hospital tests
Vote offers Balkans EU hope despite new problems | International |
Zawahri says Libya killed man who linked Iraq, Qaeda | International |
Cybersecurity starts at home and in the office
Pakistan: Troops kill 9 militants in Swat
Samoans prepare to bury tsunami victims
Jackson, Farrakhan at beaten Ill. teen's funeral
S.Korea rejects demands to return defectors
New term and new justice for nation's higher court
North Korea demands SKorea return 11 defectors
Chinese premier meets Kim Jong Il on NKorea visit
Missouri man gets life for killing stepdaughter
Death toll from floods rises to 205 in south India
Greek man with gun arrested at Pakistan airport
Arizona wildfire slows but still threatens homes
Death toll in Indian floods passes 200: officials
Deadliest days for US troops in Afghanistan
IMF hails Japan's plan to boost social spending
Rio gets a chance to show off sporting passion
South Asia frets over high food prices
China mulls banker pay, but bonuses not the issue
Tales of everyday racism set France on edge
In Poland, honey
Indonesian villagers use bare hands to dig corpses
Malaysian singer arrested in Hong Kong for assault
Author Coetzee eyes Booker triple, Mantel favorite | Entertainment |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01