Leslie Gelb: "Petraeus Locked Obama In"

Leslie Gelb:

At this morning’s hearing, General Petraeus tamped down talk of an early withdrawal from Afghanistan—and warned of greater U.S. casualties to come.

With his four stars and battle ribbons speaking for themselves and his reputation soaring, Gen. David Petraeus Tuesday told the Senate Armed Service Committee just what President Obama wanted its members to hear: (1) fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan remains essential to U.S. security; (2) the president’s counterinsurgency strategy and U.S. troop reductions projected to begin on July 2011 were fine; and (3) this general and this president are in harmony unlike the departing U.S./NATO commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal. MORE...

Howie P.S.: The photo is not meant to relate to any partilar individual, but to a mindset that has given us the current policy in Afghanistan.

"Barack Obama's firing of Stanley McChrystal showed weakness and will backfire"

Barack Obama, the US President, with David Cameron in Toronto. Photo: AFP/GETTY

Toby Harnden (Telegraph-UK):

He may have been hailed for his decisiveness, but Barack Obama sacked the wrong man and has yet to sort out his Afghanistan policy---So Obama would do well to avoid congratulating himself on winning last week's news cycle by brutally ending McChrystal's illustrious career. He has further alienated the broader military constituency and done nothing to curtail the in-fighting among his top foreign policy officials, who are apeing their economic counterparts.

With members of his inner circle like Emanuel and David Axelrod likely to return to Chicago after November's mid-term elections, Obama could find the White House a very lonely place next year. MORE...

Howie P.S.: I never recommend that any US President allow a photograph with an umbrella, especially with a British politician. Another turd in the punchbowl: "Endless war, a recipe for four-star arrogance" (Andrew Bacevich (WaPo, op-ed):

The responsibility facing the American people is clear. They need to reclaim ownership of their army. They need to give their soldiers respite, by insisting that Washington abandon its de facto policy of perpetual war. Or, alternatively, the United States should become a nation truly "at" war, with all that implies in terms of civic obligation, fiscal policies and domestic priorities. Should the people choose neither course -- and thereby subject their troops to continuing abuse -- the damage to the army and to American democracy will be severe. MORE...

Michael Hastings on "Replacing McChrystal: Can Petraeus Win the War?"

"Runaway General" writer Michael Hastings on whether President Obama's decision will solve the real problem in Afghanistan. (Rolling Stone):

President Obama, in announcing the replacement of Gen. Stanley McChrystal moments ago, sought to reassure the American people about the war in Afghanistan. "This is a change in personnel," he declared, "but not a change in policy."

That's precisely the problem.

Changing generals isn't likely to resolve the real trouble in Afghanistan: the fundamental flaws in the U.S. strategy of counterinsurgency. MORE...