We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan’s security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. But it will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.
President Barack Obama • On his choice to add 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, but begin to pull them out by July of 2011. Will 20 months be enough to move to the next step? We’ll find out. Obama’s plan, BTW, is in that mushy area where liberals don’t like it, but neither do conservatives. But it’s not burning fury, either. So he’s doing OK. source
After eight years, some of those years in which we did not have, I think, either the resources or the strategy to get the job done, it is my intention to finish the job.
President Barack Obama • On his Afghan troop announcement, which many expect him to make during a live television address Tuesday – just around the point you should be making Turkey (or Tofurky) soup out of your leftovers. As with seemingly everything in his presidency, he’s either going to piss off his base or piss off the right with his decision. We hope he does the right thing and figures out a way to piss off both sides. Now that would be awesomely presidential of him. source
Sadly, the government of Afghanistan had become a byword for corruption. And I am not prepared to put the lives of British men and women in harm’s way for a government that does not stand up against corruption.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown • Discussing his plans for Afghanistan in fairly harsh terms. Considering Brown’s talking about Afghanistan right as Obama’s trying to figure out his own plans for sending troops to the country, his words carry extra weight. • source
I won’t risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary. And if it necessary, we will back you up to the hilt.
President Barack Obama • Speaking to a Jacksonville, Fla. military audience about whether or not he plans to send more troops to Afghanistan. The president appears not to want to force the issue unless it needs to be forced. “I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm’s way,” he continued. • source
Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near term (next 12 months) — while Afghan security capacity matures — risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible.
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal • The top military commander in Afghanistan, on the likelihood of winning the war. In a recently unclassified document, McChrystal says more troops are necessary to win it – at a time when Obama is considering pulling back troops from the country. • source