General Stanley McChrystal’s resignation following his strategic blunder—granting an interview to Rolling Stone magazine—comes two weeks after the war in Afghanistan became America’s longest war, exceeding the 104 months of the Vietnam War. These two events, along with President Obama selecting General David Petraeus to succeed McChrystal, should give us pause to rethink U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. (More)
Filed under: Military, National Security, al-Qaeda, America's longest war, David Petraeus, exit strategy, George W. Bush, Government of Pakistan, Inter-service Intelligence, Iraq, ISI, Islamist-Jihadist, Karl Eikenberry, North Waziristan, nuclear terrorist, Pakistan's nuclear weapons, Peggy Noonan, rethinking Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, Rolling Stone Magazine, Ryan Crocker, Stanley McChrystal, strategic blunder, surge, Taliban, Vietnam War, Wall Street Journal
Ed, This column is the finest and most succinct brief explanation of the reasons we have been and should be in Afghanistan I have seen. As you rightly point out, the President needs to review our strategy now, particularly his announcement of a pullout beginning in mid 2011. General Petraeus has said that any actions in 2011 will be “conditions based” and I thought I detected slight movement of the President towards that view in his G20 press conference yesterday although so far I cannot find a written transcript.
Jim, thanks much.
Ed, Excellent! Regards, Chip
Chip, thanks much.
Good article….