Lessons to Be Learned

" Eight years in the region many Americans are inflicted about what the best course of action would be for Afghanistan. The latest Fox News opinion dynamics poll shows 41% of voters polled say they approve of the job the President Obama is doing when it comes to Afghanistan. While 43% say -- dis approve. But perhaps more telling that 15% who said they don't know what the best course of action in that region should be. Well joining us now as a man who served two tours of duty in Iraq and on the National Security Council. Doctor dog -- just how are you today good Shannon area thank you for coming in you have the perfect background to be helping us out with breaking down this issue. Afghanistan the president weighing very very delicate decisions here. What ways into the next and how appropriate is the timeline."

" That the timeline -- it's going to take time to get troops there. And as far as the time -- for the decision that's an interesting question that he we have two things the way we need the appearance of decisive action. But at the same time you don't want to do the wrong thing and this -- a hard choice make no mistake. How difficult is it that the presidential election -- and resolved and how much does that factor in. Part of counterinsurgency of course is it best is helping that host government to stand up and the fact that. We have a host government about which there at the very least serious questions about its legitimacy is problematic."

" And Senator Kerry has come out and -- you know you shouldn't be sending more troops there be irresponsible until -- selection is resolved. And now here at the UN may bring us some information today or tomorrow about a possible run often in their concerns about the weather whether that would be put off to the sprain and he can the president afford to wait that long to make any real concrete decisions."

" About troops. He can take the time he needs. That -- crystal has asked for more troops. But he'll make do with what he has until until they get there but he's made it very clear that he thinks he needs more as for the record did his predecessor."

" So for the troops that are there now how much is that impacts it reinforcing -- what they're trying to do you said that general crystal will make the best with what he's got. But how crucial could that inflection -- for them."

" For the troops on the ground that -- at the individual post out of the -- end of this -- at the -- the -- it may not make that much difference I suspect that what he'll do if he gets more troops is expand his area of operation push into new areas. Go places where we have not -- and try to. It essentially expand his area of operation be able to control more of the country so for the individual soldier it probably won't be that different. The net effect of course of operating over a larger area. Would be to control more -- and and and over time that control more of Afghanistan and help the country that the government the legitimate government of Afghanistan. To control more of the country but again we come back to problems with the -- got."

" Now I have to ask you because you were somebody who was inside of these decisions in negotiations as a top National Security Adviser what is -- like -- the president is in right now."

" Now for the record I was never in the meetings with the president I -- one level below that. But -- and there's often very very candid debate there are very clear decisions and and we see hints of that it's no secret that the vice president for example has set proposing an alternative to have a much smaller presence. In Afghanistan -- I think the the military. The chairman. Certainly general in the crystal sounds like the S secretary of defense gates that we just talked about are on the side of having an expanded presence and then I think there are some undecided people in between. Against the hard hard decision and all of that and thank you so much for coming today my pleasure. What a Pennsylvania firefighters."