“The United States ambassador to Afghanistan, who once served as the top American military commander there, has expressed in writing his reservations about deploying additional troops to the country, three senior American officials said Wednesday. The position of the ambassador, Karl W. Eikenberry, a retired lieutenant general, puts him in stark opposition to the current American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who has asked for 40,000 more troops.”

Karl Eikenberry, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and former Harvard Kennedy School national security fellow (1992-93), was featured in “U.S. Envoy Urges Caution on Forces for Afghanistan,” which the New York Times published on November 12, 2009.

For the full article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/politics/12policy.html?scp=2&sq=eikenberry&st=cse

“No one is talking about leaving Afghanistan, or even standing pat. We are increasing our commitment.”

-Michele Flournoy, under secretary of defense for policy

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ht83_HM4xuTLmtOrA2ml8UqYTV3AD9BQJH4G0

“On the bottom line question - yes or no on McChrystal’s request - Kerry says no. He argues that McChrystal reaches ‘too far, too fast.’ Kerry recommends that further troop increases must meet three conditions: reliable Afghan troops to partner with American forces, local political leaders, and civilian advisers to speed development. Truth be told, none of these three will be in place soon.”

Belfer Center Director Graham Allison wrote “In Afghanistan, Kerry Keeps US Goals Modest,” which the Boston Globe published on November 4, 2009.

For the full oped, go to: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19673/

Obama’s war
ForeignPolicy.com
February 18
Commentary by: Stephen Walt, Belfer Center
Topic: War in Afghanistan

President Obama has decided to increase the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan by roughly 17,000 troops over the next few months. The increase will begin with an initial deployment of 8,000 Marines in the next few weeks, to be followed by subsequent deployments of an Army brigade of 4,000 troops and about 5,000 support troops next summer.

This is a fateful decision. Yes, I know; he promised that he would do this during the campaign, but ignoring campaign promises is a time-honored tradition and I can’t help feeling like this was one issue where a rethink was called for. Instead of being just another one of George Bush’s mishandled legacies, Afghanistan will now become Obama’s war. If increasing U.S. forces doesn’t work, he will face pressure to do still more, and he will incur the political costs of any subsequent failure.

As other commentators have noted, what’s missing in the announcement is a clear statement of U.S. strategy. …

http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/