Divisive Issue

" MM and -- top story tonight -- and and other general Wesley Clark from Little Rock markets are you going to crystal we only -- Obama. Well I'll tell you when the commander on the ground says you need more troops you better listen to okay all right so you wanna you and I are -- the same -- on that -- all but. I think the real issue is what's the mission and then what's the right strategy. And I don't think it's wrong for the administration. To really do a gut check and make sure that we've got the right mission right strategy -- To me I'd be thinking real hard about Osama bin Laden because that's -- in the first place we didn't get in the first time he's not in Afghanistan. He's in Pakistani. Sold my thesis would be. You gotta look at this as -- half pack not separately Afghanistan you can lose it in Afghanistan -- driven off the battlefield. You can't win it in Afghanistan. You've got to get a solvent while --"

" I hope zawahiri out of pockets than any Pakistani army has been doing some. Operations where they should finally but the but the more important thing I think general. Isn't strategy in Afghanistan we'll leave that to general my crystal pres Obama's hand picked god let let him on the war given a chance. But the commander in chief now is looking. Lying he's unsure this is Barack Obama talking about. He's looking to the world like doesn't really Noelle what to do now that may not be fair. But it's the perception. Is -- not. Well I don't know if it's -- not because if you think about this. To do a strategic review. And that after all the administration has to look at this and and a greater things not just about the troops on the ground. It's about diplomacy with Pakistani it's about what India is to have originated in doing that all along automotive they have been doing that all along -- that there -- policy. You've got to pull it all together. And to do it. The got to get the top people involve the why didn't -- hello Jeff George Allen are you telling me about it are you telling me that our enemies in the world. Feel that -- Obama's hesitation going on three weeks now. To send more troops to the theater is a strength play you think Iran sees Obama as us long guy. I don't. Well you know I don't know what the leaders privately say about him but I would say this that if Barack Obama were to make the decision today. To send those 40000 troops they wouldn't be here tomorrow in fact. The last cuts right brigades from the January reinforcement decision aren't very aren't there yet but still the perception. Of -- Yeah no you're right here after -- another NATO countries to step up you're asking you know the look. Rangers lead the way right army Rangers lead the way okay -- that -- NASDAQ we have to do. The president's leading the way he's not I now and the president is and the president has every right and obligation. To get the strategy right -- I would not gonna get -- what I would do you tell me why I'm crazy gives you the military guy and I have no military Rheinecker what I would do a get. -- hit it I'll tell you what I would do then you tell me what you would OK I would say we're gonna give gentleman crystal more troops wouldn't put a number on. Because you know you're right you got to reevaluate what's going on where they're gonna be I understand the -- once and for security in the big cities which -- he actually got the hat. But I would say the -- we have a commitment and White House did come out to say today that they're not withdrawn from Afghanistan might have said that today very late this afternoon. But I still gonna send -- crystal. Some troops he wants more he's gonna get what would put it on Iraq quite yet that it least -- cleared it up. You know I'm not -- it hang and in dangling are what would you do what I would say it."

" I would say the same thing is that Jim Jones said this is not about troops it's about strategy got to get the strategy right then you got to get the American people behind it. But before you can go on get the American people behind it you have to have reviewed it when he first but those troop reinforcements and he and he -- get out front you know three -- Asia preacher took office. And -- didn't have his national security team on so I think we should be comforted by the fact that he's gonna take -- a week we had a -- deliberations to -- as we should be."

" Because of this is how you don't gamble pulled out of a little crystals covered either. I get -- generals over there are comforted -- no huddle understand what's going on my work. -- look -- Obama I mean -- this house right now you know that. I don't wanna matter and the you know that -- know that he's mad he's mad at him you know on the crystals and NATO commander in that speech he gave in London. Helps the president build support overseas all right now here's a poll. Send more troops to Afghanistan 43% say yes bring troops home 43% of Americans say yes -- Support US military action Afghanistan -- 64% say it supported a -- 27%. -- Obama doing what it takes to win Afghanistan. 37%. Say yes -- 50%. So if Obama doesn't -- if he's gonna lose in public opinion -- even more than he had I think."

" Well you know there's a lot of similarities to Vietnam here -- find Vietnam is that if you go back and read the record president Johnson. He got pushed into sending those troops in before you get a proper strategic assessment. And he had public support for a while but when when the military kept asking for more more troops and then we had the Tet offensive that made it look like. We hadn't done the same job that we had we done we really lost public support -- I think it's not too late. To get the public fully behind the policy got to make sure you got the right policy and he got to put the pedal -- the metal and go after but you cannot succeed. In Afghanistan alone you must succeed in pocket no I agree with -- I -- give these people says the sanctuaries just keep. Doing destruction that was a mistake in Vietnam and we can't make it was a mistake -- live in giving Cambodian allows. Thanks general we appreciate great debate."