Obama not ready for retreat in Afghanistan

NY Times:

President Obama told Congressional leaders on Tuesday that he would not substantially reduce American forces in Afghanistan or shift the mission to just hunting terrorists there, but he indicated that he remains undecided about the substantial troop buildup proposed by his commanding general.

Meeting with leaders from both parties at the White House, Mr. Obama suggested he was searching for some sort of middle ground, saying he wanted to “dispense with the straw man argument that this is about either doubling down or leaving Afghanistan,” as White House officials later described his remarks.

But as the war approached its eight-year anniversary on Wednesday, the session underscored the perilous cross currents awaiting Mr. Obama. While some Democrats said they would support whatever he decides, others challenged him with deep skepticism about sending more troops. And Republicans pressed him to order the escalation without delay, leading to a pointed exchange between the president and Senator John McCain of Arizona, his Republican opponent from last year’s election.

Mr. McCain told the president that “time is not on our side.” He added, “This should not be a leisurely process,” according to several people in the room.

A few minutes later, Mr. Obama replied: “John, I can assure you this won’t be leisurely,” according to people in the room. “No one feels more urgency to get this right than I do.”

Still, compared to the harsh debate over health care, the tone was civil and restrained during the 75-minute meeting in the State Dining Room as Mr. Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and about 30 members of Congress gathered around a large table with only glasses of water and notebooks in front of them.

...

The tone is likely to get tougher after he makes a decision. If he splits the baby it will be harsh from both sides. That makes opting for a winning strategy with more troops the only reasonable alternative. Anything less will result in a longer and more bloody war.