Close to a Decision?

" And there's continued very grim news out of Afghanistan and our nation is standing by waiting for President Obama to make important life or death decisions as to what our nation is going to do in that country this month October 2009 it is not even over yet. Is now the deadliest month of the entire eight year war in Afghanistan. 55 US troops have been killed this month. How much Martin President Obama debate and decision about the war. Rick Santorum joins us. Senators we look at these horrendous numbers and some very important to get tough decision for our president. But we need this decision. It you know what state let's take to get any -- or assistance he's using that time because -- it needs more."

" Thought. I'd like to think that it's just needs more thought but the fact of the matter is we heard from Vice President Cheney just a little over a week ago. That there was a complete vetting 882. A bottom up review if you will by the generals and Afghanistan. I and they handed to the president in January. Eight a new plan a laid out counterinsurgency strategy that was recommended by General Petraeus and that in Iraq a similar one now for Afghanistan. The war that present Obama's it was the right war. He was given that strategy and he sat on it and did nothing. Then subsequently. Authorized this review by general McChrystal we heard from general Crist -- That he didn't communicate with the present the White House for some seventy days was not able to get any kind of audience with the president. And then finally when that became public -- administration started to pay attention to it got the report in August 2 months ago and has sat on -- since then. So it's hard to believe that he's he's he's really -- a lot of his attention to this issue. Other than just wait and putting other things that he thought were more important in front of them like his domestic agenda particularly health care."

" Isn't always a wrench into the works though. Not that the president's fault when the when the election of with the with the fraud in the election because now we don't know -- civilian government we're really dealing with -- Afghanistan -- to be an election run off. In early November I think it's a seventh of November and at least post them on now. Who are dealing with estimates that we try to work both our military options as they affect the civilian government there it as an and we have to work with -- in -- is so it. You give the presence of latitude."

" Look the -- the fact of the matter is we've had soldiers in deployed in the field. That the entire length of the Obama administration without a plan without anywhere from that this administration as to what they how they wanna accomplish victory. They've been very critical of the president of the previous president's plan and legitimately sell but they have done nothing to change that they've done nothing to get a prescription for victory. And you can say they're waiting for the election well why weren't they doing something you know nine months before the election. That may have actually had an impact on the election I think the election there waiting for Greta is not the one and Afghanistan -- waiting for as the election next week here in America. They don't want to -- to alienate their base you saw the president in Virginia today campaigning for -- deeds he's. You're hearing popping sum up the New Jersey. These are very important races for this president not because of Afghanistan. But because of his domestic agenda that's what this president is focused on. He's focused on health care cap and trade and put in value the employee free choice the union bill. Those -- the things he really wants to accomplish any sees Afghanistan as simply a problem that he's got to figure out how to how to politically get out of instead of a a mission that we must successfully accomplish."

" It I would I Willis that you and I don't have the information that people on the inside have -- based on at least what we know what would you do about Afghanistan."

" But what -- what we saw in in Iraq was a counterinsurgency strategy that worked we understand that Afghanistan is a bigger country it's a much more complex country. But we have a model that has worked and that we have generals who have come forward assess the differences between Iraq and Afghanistan. And have suggested that that strategy can and will work in Afghanistan. My sense is that we have an obligation to. To support our generals in the field to give them the resources they need to accomplish the mission that has that was not done by the prior administration let's be very clear about that. They they put their own political imprint on the Afghan strategy. And my concern is that Barack Obama's gonna do the same thing -- try to middle ground here and not give the generals the resources they need to be successful."

" Senate thank you --"

" My pleasure thank you --"