Joe played important role in Obama's Afghanistan policy

[Jennicut]

WASHINGTON —
President Obama’s plan to widen United States involvement in Afghanistan came after an internal debate in which Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. warned against getting into a political and military quagmire, while military advisers argued that the Afghanistan war effort could be imperiled without even more troops.

All of the president’s advisers agreed that the primary goal in the region should be narrow — taking aim at Al Qaeda, as opposed to the vast attempt at nation-building the Bush administration had sought in Iraq. The question was how to get there.

The commanders in the field wanted a firmer and long-term commitment of more combat troops beyond the 17,000 that Mr. Obama had already promised to send, and a pledge that billions of dollars would be found to significantly expand the number of Afghan security forces.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pressed for an additional 4,000 troops to be sent to Afghanistan — but only to serve as trainers. They tempered the commanders’ request and agreed to put off any decision to order more combat troops to Afghanistan until the end of this year, when the strategy’s progress could be assessed.

During these discussions, Mr. Biden was the voice of caution, reminding the group members that they would have to sell their plans to a skeptical Congress. phttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/us/politics/28prexy.html?_r=4&h


Very interesting parts including this:
"It also offers insight into the role of Mr. Biden and other members of a foreign policy team that includes many powerful figures vying for Mr. Obama’s attention."
"Mr. Biden, White House officials said, was heavily influenced by the trip he took to Afghanistan and Pakistan just before the inauguration in January. He observed to Mr. Obama that if you asked 10 people on the ground what American objectives were, he would get 10 different answers. That observation, aides said, carried weight with Mr. Obama and helped to lead to his decision to narrow the American goal in Afghanistan."

Sounds like Joe is a very important part of Obama's foreign policy decisions and he really trusts the VP's judgment.

[PatSeg]

1. I was wondering about this yesterday

as I watched Obama on TV discussing Afghanistan. I remembered how Biden blew the other candidates out of the water when debating about Pakistan and Afghanistan. He clearly had a better grasp on the subject, so I figured he must have had some influence on Obama in his decisions.

[Jennicut]

2. Yup. I remember that as well. I think Obama choose him for that reason.

[PatSeg]

3. It appears so

Joe blew everyone away with his foreign policy expertise. Everyone else was coming up with superficial, generic answers. I also think Joe's influence in the Senate was probably an important consideration.

[jillan]

4. I could completely tell when Obama was talking about it.

There were so many of Joe's phrases.

Plus, I remember when Joe was SFRC chair and he had Richard Holbrooke come testify about Af/Pak and it was like a love fest between the two of them. They are on the same page.

Plus plus, the $$ Obama wants to invest in Pakistan was originally Biden/Lugar's bill.
Kerry signed on to it, and I bet anything that is one of the reasons why the wanted to keep Kerry as SFRC chair, as he is on the same page as they are.

Not so crazy about Obama's economic team, but extremely impressed with Obama's foreign policy team.
I think we are going to see alot of progress in foreign affairs over the next 4 years.

[PatSeg]

5. When Kerry was running for president,

Joe advised him on foreign policy and helped write some of his speeches. He is truly the master.

I agree, Obama's foreign policy team is very impressive.

[jillan]

7. Kerry is also amazing on f.p. I was sooooo happy when he took Joe's

place as chair.



Two true statesmen.

[Muttocracy]

6. Good stuff! thanks for this

been offline for a while and I love getting the Cliffs Notes from you guys.

:hi:

:grouphug:

[jillan]

8. Good to see you!

:hug: