Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Obama holds intense talks on Afghan war
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
Obama holds intense talks on Afghan war
AFP - Wednesday, October 7
Send
IM Story
Print
Obama holds intense talks on Afghan war
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – US President Barack Obama told top lawmakers not to politicize his deliberations on whether to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan, but failed to quell raging debate on the unpopular war.
Obama's meeting with Democratic and Republican power brokers did little to bridge flagrant party divisions over Afghan strategy, and reflected the lonely nature of what will be the most fateful decision of his presidency so far.
The White House talks came as Obama plunges deeper into an exhaustive, weeks-long review of Afghan policy, against a backdrop of rising troop deaths, a quickening Taliban insurgency and public anxiety over the course of the war.
"Given the importance of the policy to our security -- and to our troops -- the president said that he will be rigorous and deliberate, while moving forward with a sense of urgency," a senior Obama administration official said.
Obama also warned lawmakers not to misrepresent the options -- as Republicans demand swift action on troop deployments and some Democrats campaign openly against escalating the war.
"The president reiterated that we need this debate to be honest and dispense with the straw man argument that this is about either doubling down or leaving Afghanistan," the official said.
The meeting with lawmakers took place on the eve of the eighth anniversary of former president George W. Bush's 2001 announcement of the start of air strikes in Afghanistan, following the September 11 attacks.
On Wednesday, Obama was due to hold the latest meeting of his war council, including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the secure White House Situation Room.
Obama must decide whether to meet a request by the military for up to 40,000 more soldiers for a conflict that his commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, has warned could be lost within a year without more men. Related article: Afghan general criticised
Many Democrats oppose adding to the 68,000 US troops who will be in Afghanistan by the end of the year, fearing a long, unpopular war will turn into a quagmire or drain Obama's hopes for a reforming presidency.
Republicans want Obama to act fast to send more men, warning failure to do so would endanger US security and invite military defeat.
As debate flares over war strategy within and between the administration and the military, the president warned his eventual decision would not please everyone in Washington, or in the country, the official said.
High-profile leaders who emerged from the White House talks all praised Obama for inviting them -- but their comments revealed deep divides over the war pervading Washington.
Republican Senator John McCain warned against one option Obama is thought to be considering -- a focused counterterrorism campaign against Al-Qaeda, rather than a full-scale counterinsurgency approach favored by McChrystal.
"The fact is, we all know if the Taliban comes back, Al-Qaeda will come back," McCain said, drawing parallels between Afghanistan and the under-resourced US effort in Iraq blamed for fanning the insurgency.
"I am very convinced that General McChrystal's analysis is not only correct but should be implemented as quickly as possible."
Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid sought to argue that all the meeting's participants were on the same page.
"Everyone, Democrats and Republicans, said 'whatever decision you make we'll support it basically,'" Reid said.
But Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said his party would make up its mind only when the new strategy was clear.
And Eric Cantor, a top Republican in the House of Representatives, said Republicans would only back Obama if he dispatched more troops.
"We were here to express our support for the president and his committing to the mission up front, and expressed our support to work with him if he makes the right decision," Cantor told CNN.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who earlier warned of grave reservations in her party about escalating the war, also declined to give an undertaking to support Obama's decision.
"There was agreement that it's a difficult decision for the president to make," she told reporters outside the White House.
"Whether we agreed with it or vote for it remains to be seen, when we see what the president puts forth."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
NKorea considers return to nuclear talks AP - Wednesday, October 7
US troops ramp up Indonesia quake relief AP - Wednesday, October 7
Bombings kill 2, wound 42 in Thai south Reuters - Wednesday, October 7
Dalai Lama receives rights award at Capitol AP - Wednesday, October 7
University in Hong Kong acclaims Nobel physics winner AFP - Wednesday, October 7
News Search
Top Stories
Gold price hits record high on report to ditch dollar
Cracks emerge as IMF, World Bank work for recovery
'Masters of light' win Nobel Physics Prize
Global economic crisis to slash carbon emissions: IEA
Experts find 'faulty' gene linked to cancers
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Letterman apologizes to wife over affairs
Unemployment to peak in 8-12 months: IMF chief
Trio win Nobel Medicine Prize for research into ageing
Gold price hits record high on report to ditch dollar
Cracks emerge as IMF, World Bank work for recovery
More Most Viewed »
Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins
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 Wednesday, 7 October 2009 Turkish police fire tear gas on IMF protesters
Experts find 'faulty' gene linked to cancers
'Masters of light' win Nobel Physics Prize
Palestinians seek ITU support in frequency row
Iraqi police: market blast kills 8 in Fallujah
Threat of next world war may be in cyberspace: UN
Verizon to sell 2 Google phones this year
U.S. approves Adobe, Omniture tie-up
U.S. warns Iran may face more sanctions
| International
|
Verizon Wireless, Google to release Android phone
Minibus bomb kills 9 in west Iraq: police
| International
|
Microsoft launches new phone software
Emerging market firms turn giants in telecom sector
Turkey extends mandate to fight rebels in Iraq
Iran plans to use new centrifuge at nuclear plant
Travelling Israeli officials fear war crimes probes
Israeli police nab 2 for vandalizing ancient site
Verizon Wireless, Google to release Android phone
Microsoft launches new phone software
Verizon to sell 2 Google phones this year
Zelaya mistrusts Honduras talks
| International
|
Italy's top court debates Berlusconi immunity law
| International
|
UN appeals for $74M in flood aid to Philippines
Thai rebels kill three, wound 34: police
Weather aids defense of Calif. mountain town
Japan's government to trim 'wasteful' extra budget: minister
France, Kazakhs ink military transit, energy deals
Former NY power broker guilty in pension probe
US troops ramp up Indonesia quake relief
White House: Delay of Dalai Lama meeting mutual
CORRECTED
IEA says $10 trillion needed for clean technology
55 linked to motorcycle club indicted in W.Va.
Pakistan braces for more bombings
Man upset at closed Miami Taco Bell shoots worker
UN seeks $74 mln in aid for flood-hit Philippines
Drug record limit sought by mom in girl's fatal OD
U.S. approves Adobe, Omniture tie-up
| Technology
|
Del. GOP rep to seek Biden's former Senate seat
Biden heads to Poland, Romania, Czech Republic
US Officials: Iran's behavior will bring penalties
Prosecutor: Pediatrician molested male patients
Palestinians seek ITU support in frequency row
| Technology
|
Philippine inflation up 0.7 pct as fears grow over storm effects
Tata Consultancy Services gets new chief executive
Mongolia signs with Rio, Ivanhoe on $4B gold mine
Chinese recovery is not stable: finance minister
Aid pours into quake-hit Indonesia
Rome exhibit traces European history through its saints
Chanel goes rustic
More US schools shun sale of 'junk food'
From Kyoto to Machu Pichu: world's heritage at risk
New Seinfeld turns marriage into "comedy gold mine"
Amenabar nervous ahead of premiere of Agora blockbuster
Increasing use of face veil worries Egyptian government
'Gooooood mornin' Afghanistan!' US fights Taliban on airwaves
Nobel Literature Prize could go to a poet this year
Pusan festival opens window wider to world to stay on top
Mel Gibson's drunken driving conviction erased
| Entertainment
|
Elizabeth Taylor in hospital for heart surgery
| Entertainment
|
Madonna wins damages in UK over wedding pics
| Entertainment
|
Playboy names president, will keep print magazine
| Entertainment
|
Obama holds intense talks on Afghan war
Campaigners press for arms trade deal
Mobile phones ring in growth in emerging markets
Gold price hits record high on report to ditch dollar
Security walls at Samarra shrine now create divide
Italy's top court mulls stripping Berlusconi's immunity
Google widens lead over Bing and : Hitwise
Minibus bomb kills 9 in west Iraq -police
AT&T opens wireless network to Internet voice calling
'Masters of light' win Nobel Physics Prize
FIFA launches soccer World Cup for virtual players
Typhoon bears down on Japan's main islands
| International
|
Taliban vow 'long fight' despite 100 dead in clashes
Amazon, Apple, Google, targeted in patent case
Global economic crisis to slash carbon emissions: IEA
Twitter user who helped G20 protestors facing charges
Microsoft unveils line of Windows phones
Uganda military to free Somali state minister
| International
|
Canwest seeks bankruptcy protection
Honduras talks hopes brighter, Zelaya doubts rival
| International
|
Uganda security detains Somali minister of state
| International
|
Armed violence kills 2,000 a day worldwide: groups
| International
|
Facebook measuring the mood in the US
Mobile phones ring in growth in emerging markets
FIFA launches soccer World Cup for virtual players
NKorea considers return to nuclear talks
US troops ramp up Indonesia quake relief
Bombings kill 2, wound 42 in Thai south
Jury expert: Knowledge of Calif. shooting is wide
Dalai Lama receives rights award at Capitol
Albuquerque, NM, voters cast ballots for mayor
Injured Tom DeLay hangs up his `Dancing' shoes
University in Hong Kong acclaims Nobel physics winner
Woman in Philippines cracks Okla. case
NKorea says willing to return to nuclear talks
Britain will stop funding at Sri Lankan war camps
Amazon.com takes Kindle global
| Technology
|
Parents in prayer death get 6 months in jail
Obama to meet Dalai Lama after China trip
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 791
Looted artifacts on display at Afghan museum
AT&T allows Internet voice calls on Apple's iPhone
| Technology
|
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,348
FIFA launches soccer World Cup for virtual players
| Technology
|
American Samoa tsunami victims receiving tents
Obama offers assurances to Iraqi president
Man gets life in shooting death of California boy
Pusan festival mixes Asian film, Hollywood glamor
Crisis boosts once-hated IMF with new mission
Mandelson won't rule out UK joining euro zone
Taiwan dollar rises after Australian rate hike
S.Korea bonds extend losses on rate hike fear
S.Korea spotted buying dlrs to check won's rise -traders
Seoul shares rise on foreign buying, shipbuilders
Letterman's apologies bring big night in ratings
Injured Tom DeLay hangs up his 'Dancing' shoes
David Letterman sex-blackmail saga earns ratings bonanza
| Entertainment
|
Tom DeLay bows out of TV's Dancing
| Entertainment
|
Pusan festival mixes Asian film, Hollywood glamor
Tom DeLay expected to quit "Dancing"- reports
Food habits of the poor unchanged by NY calories law: study
Letterman sex-blackmail saga earns ratings bonanza
'Idol Gives Back' coming back to 'American Idol'
Mel Gibson's drunk driving conviction expunged
Elizabeth Taylor in hospital for heart surgery
Julius Baer acquires ING's Swiss unit
Saudi Arabia fears militants use Yemen
US-TECH Summary
Afghan Taliban say they pose no threat to the West
| International
|
Europe hits hole on rough road to economic recovery
Palestinian official: We erred over Gaza report
Amazon.com takes Kindle global, lowers U.S. prices
Tiny moon feeds largest ring around Saturn
Amazon debuts international Kindle e-reader
Iran says some countries offer it nuclear fuel
| International
|
Amazon debuts international Kindle e-reader
Saudi king 'due in Syria' as relations improve
Turkey expects to seal deal with Armenia on October 10
| International
|
UN data shows Afghan voter discrepancies: report
ECB interest rates to stay anchored: analysts
Turkish protesters, police clash at IMF meeting
| International
|
Myanmar minister meets detained democracy icon Suu Kyi
| International
|
Afghan watchdog alters vote recount after criticism
| International
|
Saudi king in Damascus to mend fences with Assad
| International
|
Foreign rescue teams leave quake-hit Indonesia city
| International
|
Iran sees U.S. role in researcher's disappearance
| International
|
The Nation's weather
President meets with national security team
Jury in Abramoff-related case heads into 3rd day
Dell brings baseball, fashion designs to PCs
| Technology
|
Bill would counter Supreme Court age bias ruling
Duncan, Holder in Chicago to discuss teen violence
Microsoft's Ballmer sees Windows 7 effect on PC market muted
| Technology
|
Statue of Helen Keller to be installed in Capitol
EU to market test Microsoft remedies on browsers
| Technology
|
AP Poll: Health care overhaul has a pulse
INSIDE WASHINGTON: Oversight lacking on war costs
Collectors named as suspects in Calif. art heist
It's iSnack3.0 -- Aussie spread renamed 'Cheesybite'
BOK head says S.Korea different from Australia -report
Liberia's looted museum becomes civil war shrine
Novel set in Tudor times wins Booker prize
Rupert Murdoch to visit SKorea: reports
In toothless Cape Town, fashion is better than your bite
SCENARIOS-Bank of Korea to hold rates, flag rise by year-end
Sri Lanka delays budget ahead of elections
Nissan heat sensors guard workers against flu
Seoul shares flat after volatile trade; autos fall
Aid helps quake victims and also Indonesia's sick
Hong Kong firm wins bid for AIG unit: report
Indonesia quake survivor says saved by a coffee
Indonesia mulls declaring villages mass graves
Indonesian villages reduced to mass graves
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