Failure to Commit?

" It's comforting to those -- and take back that. -- Obama now says he is close to making a final decision on his strategy for Afghanistan the president telling reporters during a news conference today in Tokyo. The decision will come soon and saying it will be fully transparent so the American people can understand exactly what we're doing and why."

" Haven't sent a clear message that our goal here. Ultimately has to be war. The Afghan people to be able to be in a position to provide girls period but the United States. Cannot be engaged -- An open ended commitment."

" Stephen -- was deputy assistant Vice President Cheney for national security affairs he's now president of the DC Asia adviser Stephen good to -- Thank you very much president has said over and over again the White House -- said the reason that they're being so -- about this in waiting it's because they want to make sure they get it right. Some critics say well there are some consequences to that what what are you following. Well it's hard to fault someone for saying they wanna get something right it's also hard to fault someone for saying it hard problem we want -- think it through. But it's not as if this was a surprise challenger problem. And -- obviously are some consequences to taking too long to launch on a decision here. There are current operations ongoing. The current commander who was sent out on -- mission. With a new strategy is someone appointed by President Obama why was this thought through before he replaced the commander in the field and sent them on a new strategy. Asking him to come back of their quest for resources. And now delays giving them the resource -- otherwise find the process a little -- in the new school of thought Stephen is that admitted you send over 40000 additional American troops what you're doing is you're making the Afghanistan government Afghan troops reliant on US troops and they will never be able to fend for themselves. Well I think that that's detestable proposition I mean number one I think he had did they got -- troops are there. To enhance our ability to prosecute a war against terrorists. Certainly part of our strategy has to be strengthening the capabilities of Afghans. But actually that the administration has made this harder. -- didn't -- legitimizing President Karzai. And the government there I think our ambassador there with his recent disclosures. The descending memos has made it much harder for us to deal politically with the forces in Afghanistan required change there. And just so we're clear here talking about general -- I can -- he's the US ambassador. In Koppel for us and he said that memo saying don't send more troops because the government -- so -- It's not gonna do -- good question now becomes if you have the general over -- trying to have to work a deal with Hamid Karzai and doesn't -- kind of make for strange bedfellows you say look let's work together even I think -- government is -- corrupt -- stock. Yeah I wouldn't work if someone is was trying to persuade me that way -- I don't know why would work with President Karzai. I think it's very it's a very serious challenge we do have. Political capability problems in Afghanistan this capacity issue -- security as well delivering fundamental services to the people. Certainly need to come up with a way to deal with that but I don't understand why. -- President Obama hasn't been able to launch on the security mission. Go ahead and gives general Kristol what he needs for the coming six months to a year. And then let his very smart teen work through all these added missions on humanitarian development and other things. While the security forces are doing their job on his finest delay. To be dangerous on the Pakistan front and the signal to our allies you talk about six months to -- even if they said okay go tomorrow would be spring or summer before the troops got on the ground there I mean. It is there -- commitment issue for the allies saying you know we're just concerned about the commitment now. How long this is gonna go and where that commitment ends on the United States is part. I think that's very real -- number one I don't think it's a great message for President Obama to be emphasizing. That were looking for a way out he didn't say that explicitly -- remarked that's certainly hints in that direction. And number two the longer we wait to commit the longer we're asking the people on the Pakistan side of the border to engage. In intense military operations against terrorists. And the longer we're leaving our allies to way are we serious about this commitment. And the president is awkwardly going through Asia this week asking people to contribute more Afghanistan without having launched his own strategy himself. Stephen -- Stephen thank you sir."