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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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7

White House Braces for Anti-War Push From Left

Administration fears liberal call for pullout

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(Newser) – Administration officials are concerned that pressure from the left could drive the Afghanistan war effort off the rails early, Politico reports. Rising casualties, along with doubts about strategy and the recent election, are raising fears the White House could be denied a chance to show concrete progress in the country. President Obama’s “supporters on the Hill are fighting a really serious political battle to keep the criticism under control,” says an analyst.

The issue is fast gaining traction, and the White House is busy putting together “numerical indicators” to show progress on various civilian and military fronts. “We have to show the American people that all this effort, all these resources, all these lives are making a difference,” says a Pentagon spokesman. Adds a White House official: “We’re prepared to shift and adjust, depending on what we see work."

In this Aug. 19 photo, Spc. Paul Pickett covers an injured US soldier as a helicopter lands to evacuate the wounded after their armored vehicle hit an explosive in Afghanistan's Wardak Province.
In this Aug. 19 photo, Spc. Paul Pickett covers an injured US soldier as a helicopter lands to evacuate the wounded after their armored vehicle hit an explosive in Afghanistan's Wardak Province.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
White House National Security Adviser James Jones speaks to the media after appearing on CBS'
White House National Security Adviser James Jones speaks to the media after appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/CBS, Karin Cooper)
Britain's PM Gordon Brown, right, is greeted by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, left, the head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, at Camp Bastion in Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2009.
Britain's PM Gordon Brown, right, is greeted by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, left, the head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, at Camp Bastion in Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefan Rousseau/PA)
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7 comments
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Timinator2K
Sep 1, 09 1:08 PM CDT
A lot of the right will be there, too. Russia would like nothing better than to garner a little nasty pay back for our part in helping the Soviets get their butts kicked hard by supplying the Taliban with weapon systems. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Sep 1, 09 4:47 PM CDT
Why have you become so reasonable in the last few days, Tim? Have you gone through a Libertarian pinhole and emerged into Progressiveland mistrusting rule by corporations and the government lackeys?
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IN RESPONSE:
Shannonals
Sep 1, 09 10:52 PM CDT
Nice posting Timinator2K
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vendetta
Sep 1, 09 3:10 PM CDT
WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND. I voted for you Obama, you campaigned on a promise to bring the troops home from 2 failed wars that we should have never gotten into and what does he do? HE INCREASES the number of troops in AFGAN, and hes going to leave 50K in IRAQ. The president, democrats, they dont listen, and they lied to us. Now they dont want to get us out of 2 wars because they want to bring the chicken hawk republicans onto their side for political capital WHILE PEOPLE DIE HALF WAY AROUND THE EARTH. What must we do? What must we say. If need be, I will vote for republicans next year, I will help put them into office to kick out liars even if it means them running this country into the ground for another 8 years. Sigh. WTF happened. Reply
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emptycalm
Sep 1, 09 3:45 PM CDT
Don't be an idiot. Why do you think people voted out the republicans in the first place? They screwed it up. Now that the democrats are fucking up, you want to put the old fuck ups in? They're both liars. Getting one to fix the others mess ups is pointless.
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