One of U.S. President Barack Obama’s top military advisors in Afghanistan suggested Sunday that more troops might be necessary to win the war with the Taliban. Now Obama will have to make a decision in the coming months: whether to send more troops to Afghanistan as violent attacks increase.
We’re looking at perspectives from NBC, FOX News, The Post-Crescent, and CNN of rising violence and a possible increase in American troops being sent to Afghanistan.
“Escalating violence in Afghanistan has lead to the death of four more U.S. troops today, making 2009 the deadliest year for Americans since the war began. 172 U.S. soldiers have died in Afghanistan this year bringing the total since the 2001 invasion to 802.” (MSNBC)
NBC’s Meet the Press brings in perspective from Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mullen addresses questions of the U.S. role in Afghanistan and explains why we might need more troops to continue the war there.
“Right now, the American people signed up, I think, for support of getting at those who threaten us. To the degree that the Afghan people’s security and the ability to ensure that a safe haven doesn’t recur in Afghanistan.”
On FOX News, Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution tells Shepard Smith extra troops are needed most to increase security in Southern and Eastern Afghanistan, where the Taliban is the strongest, to ensure those areas are making positive steps towards democracy.
“There’s a debate now about whether we have enough troops to do that. But the basic idea is really starting to crystallize. So what you see is the beginning of a clearer sense of what we are really trying to accomplish.”Wisconsin newspaper the Post-Crescent interviews U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. He doesn’t believe adding troops is the right approach.
“After eight years, I am not convinced that simply pouring more and more troops into Afghanistan is a well-thought-out strategy. ... I think it is time we ought to start discussing a flexible timetable when people in America and Afghanistan and around the world can see where we intend and when we intend to bring our troops out.”
Finally, CNN reporter Barbara Starr questions whether politics will play a role when General Stanley McChrystal meets with Obama to discuss strategy in Iraq, and Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman weighs in on the issue.
