McChrystal and Ambassador Eikenberry to testify before Congress

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | November 24, 2009 at 03:55 am

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According to White House and other officials, General Stanley McChrystal and Ambassador Karl Eikenberry have been asked to be prepared to testify before Congress as early as next week.

President Obama is expected to announce his decision on Afghanistan next week. The officials, who asked to remain anonymous, said the testimony will be to support Obama's decision and support war funding requests.

Dates for the testimony have not yet announced.

The top U.S. general and the U.S ambassador in Afghanistan have been told to prepare to testify before Congress as early as next week, according to White House and other U.S. officials, giving an indication of how and when President Obama plans to announce his war strategy.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have yet to be announced, said Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry have not been given a date for their appearance before committees that would consider additional war funding requests.

But, the officials said, the two have been told that their testimony would quickly follow Obama's announcement, so that they could offer details and support for the president's strategy for how to proceed with the eight-year-old war. Opinion polls show that most Americans believe it is no longer worth fighting

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Hugh Askew

at 04:30 on November 24th, 2009

To be fair, the President has equivocated long enough, that most of us have forgotten what his stance on the war was/is.

YankeeJim

at 04:40 on November 24th, 2009

Carterizing the War in Afghanistan, by Barrack Obama

A hasty exit might be the best move, followed by a rescue mission for those who were taken hostage at the last minute. UAVs are flying in all directions, colliding at every turn while the Navy and Air Force have a four year redundant R & D activity to produce a solution to the problem--but first, the problem must become more visible.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:42 on November 24th, 2009

Some are now speculating it will be 30,000 troops, but incremental with compliance goals for Karzai. Question is, what will happen if Karzai doesn't comply?

YankeeJim

at 04:51 on November 24th, 2009

No questions please.

But, if you insist, it is most certain that Karzai marches to his own drummer. He will fake compliance for awhile before being trapped and ultimately assassinated. It will be an inside job by one who gets cut off from financial gain.

Put this in a sealed envelope and we will open later.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:19 on November 24th, 2009

Good intelligence estimate. Envelope is sealed.

A. Tran

at 06:29 on November 24th, 2009

It's interesting that both men are going to testify before Congress when each has voiced different views on Afghanistan.

I think it's important to the military and the morale of the troops that specific policy and plans should be in place before officials start to discuss or hint all kinds of possibilities. These "leaks" are not helpful to people who are on the ground.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:36 on November 24th, 2009

True. Thanks for this Pythiian:)

djermano

at 06:29 on November 24th, 2009

McCrystal and his cohorts should be arrested and tried for war crimes, and false occupation of the foreign country Afghanistan and Iraq. If Obama prolongs this deadend fake war....his boot and kick in the pants will be swift in the coming election if not Impeachment proceedings and other anti-war measures introduced.... Obama should be put on trial for obstruction of Justice while joining the Bush gulag that still has its deadly evil grip on America.

The Rev.

marianmo

at 06:48 on November 24th, 2009

great post acp

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:51 on November 24th, 2009

Thank you marianmo

a211423

at 09:17 on November 24th, 2009

It's interesting that both men are going to testify before Congress when each has voiced different views on Afghanistan.

This is a keen observation Pythiian.

And chosing these men is not by accident. Yes, both represent differient views characterizing what the final decision of the administration is going to be; moreover, I believe they embody Obama's own consternation on how to proceed in recent months, but also how success can be achieved that is acceptable to the American people. McChrystal's recommendations will be accepted, but they will be tempered with Eikenberry's concern of the corruption sabotaging counterinsurgency strategy favored by McChrystal.

Continued support in Afghanistan will be linked to Karsai making tangible progress against corruption, which will be supported by the prospect of incremental military assistance. This is a strong message to Karsai, and his actions will determine the future of his country.

snuffysmith

at 09:55 on November 24th, 2009

McChrystal and US Ambassador to Testify on Afghanistan War - Michael D. Shear and Scott Wilson, Washington Post. The top US general and the US ambassador in Afghanistan have been told to prepare to testify before Congress as early as next week, according to White House and other US officials, giving an indication of how and when President Obama plans to announce his war strategy. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have yet to be announced, said Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry have not been given a date for their appearance before committees that would consider additional war funding requests. But, the officials said, the two have been told that their testimony would quickly follow Obama's announcement, so that they could offer details and support for the president's strategy for how to proceed with the eight-year-old war. Opinion polls show that most Americans believe it is no longer worth fighting. On Monday night, Obama met in the White House Situation Room with his senior national security advisers, including Eikenberry and McChrystal, who was expected to join the session by teleconference from Kabul. In an effort to weaken the Taliban insurgency and destroy al-Qaeda, Obama is choosing from several strategic options, all of which call for deploying thousands of additional US troops and would cost tens of billions of dollars a year.