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Obama Leans to Modified McChrystal Plan

Not buying Biden strategy as sufficient, without some troops

By Caroline Miller, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 24, 2009 6:58 AM CDT

(Newser) – Gen. Stanley McChrystal looks less and less likely to walk away empty handed, the Wall Street Journal predicts, as President Obama moves towards a "hybrid" strategy in Afghanistan that would combine troop increases with the special ops approach supported by the vice president. One scenario would see 10,000 to 20,000 more troops deployed, focused on winning support of Afghans, while assets, including drones, helicopters, and surveillance equipment, are shifted from Iraq to target terror groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Insiders say Obama isn't persuaded that the Biden counter-terrorist approach alone would be viable, despite Biden's own staff beefing up the case in written arguments. With the limited troop increase, "You'd be trying to buy time" for the Afghan security forces, one tells the Journal. "In effect, you'd narrow the counterinsurgency part of the campaign down to training up the Afghans as fast as possible."

Soldiers from U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Mountain Warrior, patrol along a road during an operation in the Pech Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar province on Friday, Oct.... (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Commander, US Forces Afghanistan delivers a speech in London, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, center, is welcomed by German Brigadier General Joerg Vollmer, right, regional commander, at the German base in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, right, shakes hands with a marine before boarding a military plane at the Camp Leatherneck base in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Jason Straziuso)

Afghan National Army soldiers run towards a house during training by U.S. Marines at a coalition base near Farah, Afghanistan, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

During a medevac mission over Helmand Province, US Army Flight Medic Sgt. Nathaniel Dabney, of Prescott, Ariz., secures a headbrace to a young Afghan accident victim, Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

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Obama Leans to Modified McChrystal Plan

Not buying Biden strategy as sufficient, without some troops

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Obama, Others Won't Return Ponzi Cash

Receiver wants the $1.8M Allen Stanford gave to politicians

Chinese VP Arrives in Washington

Xi Jinping, China's next president, to meet with Obama

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

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Obama Leans to Modified McChrystal Plan

Not buying Biden strategy as sufficient, without some troops

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Joe Biden • Stanley McChrystal

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama, Others Won't Return Ponzi Cash

Receiver wants the $1.8M Allen Stanford gave to politicians

Chinese VP Arrives in Washington

Xi Jinping, China's next president, to meet with Obama

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?