Report: Politics not getting due attention in war

[laststeamtrain]

Source: AP

Report: Politics not getting due attention in war

By ANNE GEARAN (AP) – 10 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The war effort in Afghanistan suffers from a lack of attention to the volatile politics of the country, according to a former adviser to the top U.S. general there.

"The United States and its allies have not thought rigorously enough about how U.S. and allied interests might not align with those of the Afghan government," said a report from Andrew Exum of the Center for a New American Security. Exum had been an adviser to Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

"Good counterinsurgency tactics and operations cannot, in and of themselves, win a campaign," according to the report being released Thursday.

When two top Pentagon officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, they gave a newly upbeat assessment of the war, putting the best face on a conflict that many senior military officials worry could go either way.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqyaFh_efr-brDq0rMLF1hkop0tgD9FH2T485

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Uh,oh - The next sentence in this article begins: "I'm cautiously optimistic,"

[msongs]

1. "a newly upbeat assessment" of murder in the name of corporate profits. nice nt