'Normal Process'

" Right now. I don't McChrystal has requested 40000 more troops so all -- reported the -- trying to figure out where does that requesting an right now as you can be discussed at the White House at the meetings that are ongoing today. The spokesman says. Not necessarily he says you know it's working its way up the chain of command that a question that's simply the way things are diner. And once the president reviewed that request it started to move up the chain of command to NATO. And all of the other avenues have been used to go through and so far the bottom line appears to be the president has made a decision about whether or not the chips are going to be sent into Afghanistan. And that's that that's where -- general we're very pleased to have with us to help sort some of the -- general Richard Myers who is the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And the author of eyes on horizon serving on the front lines of national security and he joins us now general. At -- Pretty to update Oden get anything out of that press briefing there was a lot of sort of -- circuitous. Language in there."

" Well at new allied health I was pretty straightforward Martha in the sense that. There is a process that's going on in and from the description that I heard in the press briefing that sounds very familiar. The processes. That we use and clearly I don't like crystal has one view it's. It's his view of Afghanistan don't Petraeus would have a slightly different view because he's responsible for the region. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and have a different view because they're looking at the the world wide security situation has as the secretary defense. And hasn't will be the commander in chief and the National Security Council so. I admit I'm not I think it's it seems to me to be a normal process although the fact we already know. The Democrats -- things to be successfully needs from a substantial number of troops."

" you know fled -- need their rest of the population that it may seem that the process is you know a bid to. We've gotten -- ads are cute as that you're saying. This is the way it's done is the -- so is done and maybe the thing that's different here is the general McChrystal I spoke out a bit about what his request was is that is that fair to say general."

" I think that's fair to say that I cannot above the intended to speak out or not but that's I think that's sort of -- the whole the whole issue because clearly there administration's involved in a you know kind of a reassessment are we on the right. Strategy here in Afghanistan. What its impact on Afghanistan the defendant you know whatever we decide. And that at some point you know what resources would be required to. To execute the strategy. General you know when you look back over the last eight years what is your feeling about what may have been and we didn't win any mistakes made along the way and are you surprised that the Taliban has her surged into the extent that it has. Well I think everybody was a little bit surprised at all -- has re emerged. With what some strength. Because -- at least when I left office they're there wasn't much of a threat from the -- bond. Afghan Afghan vote if people had. To adopt a constitution. We had a government in place and things seem to be going along reasonably well. You can always say well should we have put more people in there to train and equip the Afghan security forces and sure you can I put more resources that the -- side of that coin is. You have the Afghan people to do their part as well and to step up in this condemned by the -- re emerges here in the last year so that was. That changed the equation all of that is. As it often does and so valued you have to reevaluate okay outlook for our strategy going forward. Before -- let you go general would you what would you advise the president about these additional 40000 troops have been requested. Well you know -- I I don't I would would get specific about the truth I think what's important and I'm sure what the president and his. Senior advisers are talking about it's more than just about troops. You can't win insurgencies with military force alone she got to consider the other elements of power. Political diplomatic economic. And I hope that they're taking input from our ambassador I can very and up from the State Department and others that that have -- estimates of power so we can. You know about with the Afghan government that is credible that the people see as credible that is delivering good governance of the Afghan citizens and that's just as important as how many troops so I think. It's got to be a more holistic approach and at least what we hear about and most of the media matters press. General Richard Myers former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and very good to have you here -- get your -- thank you very much like Martha."