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Obama Aides Divided on Afghan Strategy, According to New Book

   VOA News 22 September 2010

   A new book documents deep division among U.S. President Barack Obama's
   top  advisors on the Afghan war strategy, with some key administration
   officials doubtful the new plan will succeed.

   [1]The  Washington  Post  and  [2]The  New  York  Times both published
   excerpts  Wednesday  of  an  upcoming  book  by  [3]Bob  Woodward,  an
   associate  editor at the Post, who interviewed President Obama and his
   advisors on the war strategy.

   The  accounts  say  [4]Mr.  Obama  was  pushing  for  an "exit" and no
   long-term   "nation-building"   in  Afghanistan,  while  top  military
   commanders  only  offered  options  of  sending in more U.S. troops to
   fight the Taliban insurgency.
   The president eventually agreed to send an additional 30,000 troops to
   the  country,  but  announced  a  deadline  for  U.S.  forces to begin
   withdrawing in July of 2011.
   The   U.S.   special   representative  to  Afghanistan  and  Pakistan,
   [5]Richard  Holbrooke,  was quoted as saying the new strategy will not
   work.
   Excerpts  from  the  book  also  highlight deep personal rifts between
   administration officials.
   An  unnamed  senior  administration  official  downplayed the division
   Wednesday,  saying President Obama comes across in the war review as a
   leader who is analytical, strategic and decisive.
   The Washington Post says the book also discloses that the U.S. Central
   Intelligence  Agency  has  a  3,000-man  paramilitary  army made up of
   mostly Afghans.  The elite force is said to conduct sensitive, covert
   operations into Pakistan against al-Qaida and Taliban havens.
   Another  excerpt  says U.S. intelligence reports show Afghan President
   Hamid Karzai has been diagnosed with manic depression.
   Obama's Wars is set to be released on Monday.
   Woodward  is  best  known  for  his  work,  along with journalist Carl
   Bernstein, uncovering the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to the
   resignation of former president Richard Nixon.

References

   1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/21/AR2010092106706.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010092106707
   2. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/
   3. http://bobwoodward.com/
   4. http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama
   5. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/129337.htm

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