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Main Threat to Obama's Afghan Plan: Obama's Afghan Plan

Middle-ground strategy on militants not realistic

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 27, 2009 1:58 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama could be undermining his own strategy to combat militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan, David Cloud writes for Politico. The strategy—increase the number of US troops but also draw greater support from allies—“keeps the US committed but not too committed,” says Cloud, questioning if the “careful middle course” approach is self-defeating given the region’s unique challenges.

Obama’s “clear-eyed” goal is to decimate al-Qaeda, but he won’t be able to do that without also stabilizing Afghanistan. And Pakistan is likely to prioritize its own needs above those of Washington. With critics clamoring for more US troops beyond recent additions, even the White House seems uncertain. “There’s no guarantee,” said one official, “but we think it can be done.”

[Images (2)]

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The Obama administration fears getting bogged down in a bloody and inconclusive war in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but it also fears walking away from the region. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A soldier from the US 101st Airborne Division patrol in the outskirts of Bagram, Afghanistan. (AP Photo)

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The question that arises is whether in trying to keep the US commitment limited, the White House is making it that much harder for the new strategy to work.
- David Cloud

It will be hard, given the risks of seeing nuclear-armed Pakistan descend further into chaos, for the Obama administration to pressure President Asif Ali Zardari too hard if the threats to his government intensify.
- David Cloud

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Main Threat to Obama's Afghan Plan: Obama's Afghan Plan

Middle-ground strategy on militants not realistic

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