If You Have a Moment…
I’d like to talk to you about Afghanistan, sir.
…
Afghanistan. You know, the place between Iran and Pakistan, the one that…
Pakistan, sir. Next to India? Muslim? Yes sir, that’s the place, the one with all the dead women leaders, you got it. Well, just to its left—I mean, right next door—is Afghanistan.
The Tal-ee-ban, that’s it. You really are sharp if I may say so, sir. Now, if I can bring to your attention…
Time’s up, sir? So quickly? Yes sir, I realize how much time it’s taking to convince the International Olympic Committee to give the 2016 games to Chicago. You must be exhausted.
I’ll just see your appointment secretary on the way out, shall I? Is 2010 good for you? No? 2011? Yes sir, we’ll just keep it flexible. Yes sir, “rapid reaction”, very funny, sir. I’ll await your call.
President Obama will hear from his top commander in Afghanistan on Wednesday for the first time since the general warned that America’s mission in the unstable country will likely fail without more troops.
The president is attending the first in a series of Afghanistan strategy sessions with his national security team amid criticism that he has not acted quickly enough to address the challenges U.S. forces face there, and that he has been downplaying advice from Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
The security team includes top military and diplomatic officials with whom Obama has been in regular contact. But McChrystal, who will join the private meeting via video feed, has talked with Obama only once since taking over U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan over the summer.
The strategy session provides a chance for McChrystal to explain personally to Obama why he’s asked for more troops — a request Obama has put on hold while he reviews war policy in Afghanistan with the rest of his security team.
Would it be too cynical of me to wonder if President Obama can even pick McChrystal out of a crowd? The general said they’ve spoken only once, after all.
Let’s hope McChrystal talks fast, though, before more of this takes place:
A United States service member was killed when a suicide car bomber struck a military convoy Wednesday morning in eastern Afghanistan, according to allied officials and the provincial authorities.
Anyhow, they have only today. Copenhagen awaits (Michelle’s already there, having taken her own plane.)