? on Obama war strategy?

The Obama strategy is called Cut and Run, unless it hurts you politically then Lie, Lie, Lie...

From the start, he ALSO said he'd continually review his strategy, to assess how things are going, what is and isn't working, and what changes he may need to consider along the way.

It's what SANE people do, rather than mindlessly droning "stay the course" for years, when "the course" is obviously wrong or mis-guided.

Time has passed; McChrystal has made a new recommendation; Obama is refusing to respond in a knee-jerk way to that recommendation, but will carefully consider what to do next.

Abandoned? Uh, no. He hasn't MADE a decision.

Yes, things have changed. One is that the election was highly questionable, making the decision of how to proceed harder. Another is that support for the war is waning -- both here and abroad.

Uh, all presidents take into account how winds are blowing; they need the support of people not them in their policies. That doesn't mean mindlessly following prevailing winds, it means taking ALL relevant factors into account before making a decision.

Go for all-out victory HOW, exactly?

"Become a quagmire"? Uh, for most of the time we've been there, it was on the back-burner.

Obama and I agree that troops and bullets are not sufficient to achieve our goals; a stable Afghanistan IS a real possibility -- but it requires securing the population, and making it possible for them to live decent lives (thus making productive work more desirable than being in Taliban pay for most young men there).

I am currently torn, as I've been hearing different takes on how important this really is; and whether, given everything else (such as lack of support of citizens of NATO countries) success is realistic politically.

I'm very happy to NOT have to make these decisions myself.

Obama is a reasonable man, who listens to his staff and considers, before deciding. On the whole, I've found him to be pretty strong on the good judgement criterion.

Would you prefer he pretend to be a "know it all" and disregard the Generals assements before they are even made public ?

You also forget that was before the Taliban stepped up out of the mountains, and forcibly took control of the countries capital Kabul !

Things change on the ground, so unless you are there, any good president would rely heavily on the recommendation of those who are there.

If Bush were still president, and McChrystal wanted more troops... you would calling all liberals cowards for not signing up as you sit safely in front of your computer on US soil !

Obama is clearly different from Bush in the sense that he isn't committed to "staying the course"...when the course leads our country off a cliff !

It is about political winds. I think we should bring the troops home because as you said Afghanistan is a quagmire.

Things change. A strategy from 6 months ago may not be appropriate today. Perhaps new information has come to light. It is important not to be stuck on one solution.

every person working for President says that they could pull out troops if elected is purely making off the wall statements. factor of fact, Nixion suggested a similar factor, in his 2d term he had to in elementary terms supply up the conflict and run, and costing a pair hundreds lives interior the technique of people interior the approach, no longer to point the lack of ability of life of the Nam people. a similar factor could be in Iraq, no longer to point it shows something of the worldwide that in case you hit some people the united stateswill run. we will not stand that rep, and then the conflict will come to the U.S. as in 9/11.

I agree, Obamas plan is to cut and run. Which only makes him look weak.

USA can only try to save the face.