Afghanistan Mission Creep Watch - The What is CT Version? Posted by Michael Cohen

This paragraph from an otherwise pretty fascinating article on Afghanistan in the Wall Street Journal this weekend left me completely and utterly gobsmacked:

People familiar with the internal debates say Mr. Obama rejected a strictly counter-terror approach during White House deliberations in early October. One official said Pentagon strategists were asked to draft brief written arguments making the best case for each strategy, but the strategists had difficulties writing out a credible case for the counter-terror approach -- prompting members of Mr. Biden's staff to step in and write the document themselves.

How is it possible that the US military, which has spent the past 8 years fighting a Global War on Terror (i.e. counter-terrorism) incapable of drafting a credible case for a CT approach in Afghanistan . . . for the President of the United States? Seriously, how is that possible? I suppose the smart ass answer would be that there is no credible case for a CT approach in Afghanistan. But of course that is silly; as Austin Long pointed out recently at FP.

But I really have to question the kind of military advice President Obama is getting  if they can't even tell him what a counter-terrorism strategy in Afghanistan would look like. Have they become so inculcated with COIN doctrine that they simply reject the very idea that a CT strategy can succeed in Afghanistan or elsewhere? And how is the President being served when he is not being presented with every possible military and political scenario in Afghanistan? Look, whether you support COIN or support CT, the bottom line is that if the military is being asked by the President to develop military options for Afghanistan they have a pretty significant obligation to do it - whether they agree or disagree with the approach. The fact that they can't or won't do it is pretty disconcerting.

Comments

[tequila]

Has it occurred to you that a pure CT strategy that forgoes the country just cannot be made to work?

If the guy who pioneered fusion cell CT in Iraq and helped wreck AQI cannot figure out a credible way to do it in the Afghan context, then maybe it's time to think that there's something wrong with a pure CT strat, no?

[UGG Bailey Button]

Cheap ugg bailey button boots online sale,￡89 only,UK Free Shipping!ugg bailey button,bailey button uggs,bailey button uggs

[replica watches]

Has it occurred to you that a pure CT strategy that forgoes the country just cannot be made to work? Rolex Daytona

[valentines day gift ideas]

In particular, Obama pushed for revisions in proposed plans for troop increases to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, the official said.

[Ugg London]

It appears that the overall trend in autumn and winter Uggs london boots really extreme like hell, but for those who exaggerated knee-high or higher boots.

[muhtar]

Thank you for your sharing.! seslichat seslisohbet

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[cheap coach bags]

Great comments! You are so nice, man! You never know how much i like'em!

[cheap coach purses]

Yes, that's cool. The device is amazing! Waiting for your next one!

[rado watches]

If you have PANERAI Watches , I still have my idea to achieve.

[shelving]

We all know these years china pallet racking in china develop very fast, now the design capacity of racking is very strong in china.
You can see every kind of china racking in china, includingDrive in racking,
cantilever racking, shelving,Longspan shelving, dexion racking,. We also have very experienced engineer to do the design and instlaation job.
Mezzanine Floor
refrigeration equipment

[shelving]

We all know these years china pallet racking in china develop very fast, now the design capacity of racking is very strong in china.
You can see every kind of china racking in china, includingDrive in racking,
cantilever racking, shelving,Longspan shelving, dexion racking,. We also have very experienced engineer to do the design and instlaation job.
Mezzanine Floor
refrigeration equipment

[Kodes]

Türkiyenin ilk Hiphop Sitesi Hiphop, Gekko G Fan Sitesi Gekko G, Mask animasyon thank you very good site

[mbt]

This is very beauty article, I like it, thank you!
To the word you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

[TıkLa-SohbeTSesLiSohbet siteleri arasında ekol bir adres SesTonum hemen sohbette başlamak icin SesTonum 'tıklayınız..! SesLiSohbet ve SesLiChaT adreslerinin gözdesi hemen tıklayarak SesLiSohbet yapmaya başlaya bilirsiniz..!]

SesLiSohbet siteleri arasında ekol bir adres SesTonum hemen sohbette başlamak icin SesTonum 'tıklayınız..! SesLiSohbet ve SesLiChaT adreslerinin gözdesi hemen tıklayarak SesLiSohbet yapmaya başlaya bilirsiniz..!

SesTonum
SesLiSohbet
SesLiChaT

[fengye0528]

The color it very easy toGucciEvaluating in LaTeX 2e
Evaluating LaTeX 2e makes Gucci use colored textdistributed with

[watches]

For those who have not used a 24-hour hand, it makes one full revolution of the dial over 24 hours which means that 12 pm is at 6 clock on the dial. This features allows you to track two timezones: one using the standard time hands, and the other using the GMT hand and the 24hr bezel. The bezel has a grippy coin edge and a light but clicky turn.The included bracelet is nice and light. Replica Casio Watches features solid end links (spring bars), and the outer links of the bracelet are screwed together. The clasp has a fold-over design with a signed safety. The bracelet is a perfect fit for the Replica Wittnauer Watches and integrates beautifully with the lugs. I will mention that the PVD on the bracelet is very light and after some considerable time on my wrists, there is noticeable wear. If PDV wear bothers you, go with the brushed/polished model instead (brushed on top and polished on the sides of the case).This is a Replica Vacheron Constantin that is up for just about any task and does so with little fuss or explanation. I wore it on a twelve day trip to San Francisco and Replica Ulysse Nardin Watches kept up perfectly. The Replica Zodiac Watches is light enough to be worn without consideration, classy enough to be worn with any attire, and with the GMT complication, it is a traveler's best friend. It's amazingly accurate; many days, it showed no deviance at all, and after a month, it is usually within +/-4 seconds.The G-1 starts at $549, which is an amazing price for a watch of this quality. Many other Replica Tommy Hilfiger Watches that feature this movement retail for hundreds to thousands more, and the G-1 is without a doubt the best design from OCEAN7 that we have reviewed to date. The model as reviewed is $599, and the buyer can choose from a series of bezel colors to suit either finish.OCEAN7 Watch Company have outdone themselves on the new G-1 GMT *** a very cool watch that doesn't sacrifice quality, features, looks, or everyday practicality; For updates on content, follow Watch Report on Twitter.