Tonight President Obama layed out his strategy for the War in Afghanistan. After months of delay, he announced to no one's surprise that he would not be requesting the full 40,000 troop surge the Generals on the ground asked for. He thinks they can manage with 75% - 30,000. He is going to request that the UN supply the additional 10,000 so I guess we can let him be on that one.
The most troubling part is that he has once again set a completion date for himself. He wants the first troops to begin withdrawing by July 2011. Declaring a timetable for a withdrawal would merely send the Taliban underground until the Americans began to leave. It also sends the wrong message to our troops - that no matter how hard they work and successful they are, they may still have to pull out before the job is done.
According to the latest Gallop poll - 35% of Americans approve of the way President Obama is handling the war in Afghanistan. 55% disappove and had we been asked - we'd have checked this box.
Senator Roberts' - I remain concerned that artificial time lines for withdrawal will tie the hands and further endanger our men and women in uniform while emboldening the Taliban and other terrorists. I hope this will not be the case.
There will be 40,000 more troops, when you take into account the troops sent from our allies.
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