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White House Braces for Anti-War Push From Left

Administration fears liberal call for pullout

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 1, 2009 11:47 AM CDT

(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' Face the Nation Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009.
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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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
cognitivefilter
Sep 3, 2009 12:58 PM CDT
so, emptycalm, how should we fix it ?
Reader65069154
Sep 2, 2009 8:53 AM CDT
Actually, I believe his promise was to bring hom troops from Iraq, and increase focus on Afghanistan. He's done/doing that as far as I can tell
Shannonals
Sep 2, 2009 3:52 AM CDT
Nice posting Timinator2K

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