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Obama Takes Time on Troop Decisions

Unlike his predecessor.

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2009 11:07 AM CST
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(Newser) – Barack Obama is resisting pressure from the Pentagon to swiftly approve a major shift of forces to Afghanistan, Politico reports. For weeks officials have been predicting the new president would, within days, OK the request for 10,000 more troops. Instead Obama has insisted on a methodical strategic review, debating the timetable, mission, and composition of forces, and showing a markedly different approach than his predecessor, who until the surge in 2007, appeared to defer to his commanders.

“I’m personally hopeful that President Obama will do something that President Bush didn’t do particularly well,” said one military police advocate. “He’s thinking through the implications of committing troops, not just for the first order, but the second and third.” Robert Gates called the deliberate pace “entirely appropriate,” and it’s probably a sign that the cautious defense secretary is being heard within the administration.

Barack Obama arrives for a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, unseen, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Sunday, July 20, 2008.
Barack Obama arrives for a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, unseen, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Sunday, July 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Presidential Palace, HO)
A US soldier stands guard in front of an armored personal carrier as his colleagues, right, walk to investigate three suspected Taliban militants in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2009.
A US soldier stands guard in front of an armored personal carrier as his colleagues, right, walk to investigate three suspected Taliban militants in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)
US helicopters of the International Security Assistance Force, arrive in Badghis province, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.
US helicopters of the International Security Assistance Force, arrive in Badghis province, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 20009, to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 20009, to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Feb 27, 2009 4:14 AM CST
Wow, he wants to think. What a concept.
justme
Feb 16, 2009 7:50 PM CST
Agreed, but the oposite might be just as scary or worse. The "afraid to shoot at all". A nation as committed as ours around the world must keep all options available, even those we all wish we never had to use.
woodyTX
Feb 16, 2009 3:51 AM CST
No shoot from the hip cowboy here. Refreshing.

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