American Marines rested at a makeshift patrol base in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday. David Furst/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesAfghan War Debate Now Leans to Focus on Al Qaeda -- New York Times
WASHINGTON — President Obama’s national security team is moving to reframe its war strategy by emphasizing the campaign against Al Qaeda in Pakistan while arguing that the Taliban in Afghanistan do not pose a direct threat to the United States, officials said Wednesday.
As Mr. Obama met with advisers for three hours to discuss Pakistan, the White House said he had not decided whether to approve a proposed troop buildup in Afghanistan. But the shift in thinking, outlined by senior administration officials on Wednesday, suggests that the president has been presented with an approach that would not require all of the additional troops that his commanding general in the region has requested.
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My Comment: The mass majority of U.S./Allied casualties in Afghanistan are coming from Taliban attacks and operations .... not from Al Qaeda. Focusing on Al Qaeda will only free up the Taliban to plan more attacks and operations against U.S./Allied forces and Afghan allies .... thereby escalating the war and completely undermining any possibility of reigning in these religious fanatics.
Should we be surprised .... no. What we are witnessing are people whose specialties and experiences come from law school, community organizing, and politics .... and applying this background to outlining anti-terrorism operations, conducting war policy and tactics, force commitments and deployments, and what rules of engagement will be permitted. No wonder the Generals and intelligence services are frustrated.
The net outcome of this fiasco is obvious. My prediction .... we are going to have more war, more casualties, and a collapse in the battle against Al Qaeda.
What frustrates me is that this can still be avoided .... starting from the top. The role of the White House in this war is simple. Outline your objectives .... tell your military how these objectives can be reached .... support the recommendations that the Generals and strategists make .... and then implement. You do not .... I repeat do not .... tell your Generals that this is your strategy .... have them give their assessment and recommendations .... sit on their assessment and recommendations .... and then come out with a "new strategy" that will conform to what are your own assessments and recommendations.
In the meantime, the Taliban's strategy of engaging U.S./Allied forces, eliminating Afghan allies, taking and holding territory, keeping safe havens safe, maintaining recruitment and training, using propaganda and disinformation to your advantage .... this strategy continues.