"The administration's lengthy deliberations about whether to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan last fall produced a sharp debate between Mr. Obama's White House and the military commanders responsible for Afghanistan -- and the rift appears to endure. By the middle of this year, the book reports, Vice President Biden was "more convinced than ever that Afghanistan was a version of Vietnam." The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl W. Eikenberry, is quoted as saying, "Basically we're screwed." National security adviser James L. Jones's view is "you can't win." Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute, who is the senior coordinator for Afghanistan on the National Security Council, says, "This is a house of cards."" Woodward
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The picture that emerges from Woodward's new book is of a military faction that has successfully maneuvered the president against his judgment into doing what they think best in Afghanistan. At the same time there exists another senior military faction that has urged the president to follow a different path, one that does not involve building a new world in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
As quoted above (page 311, "Obama's Wars") Powell came very close to recommending that several of the dissidents be fired and sent into retirement.
George Marshall did not hesitate to advise Truman to fire Macarthur.
Why the hesitation now? pl
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/28/AR2010092805200.html
