Congress is likely to give the President $33 billion more to support his "surge" in Afghanistan. But a prime Republican supporter, Richard Lugar of Indiana, says the mission lacks "clarity" or "a clear definition of success." Democrat John Kerry is suggesting analogies to the war in Vietnam. The President of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haass, says "continued or increased involvement" in Afghanistan is not worth America's "investment of blood and treasure." General David Patraeus is still committed to full-fledged counterinsurgency, but is under increased pressure to deliver, even before the end of this year. Should the US cut back sooner rather than later? Is it time to deal with the Taliban? We get a progress report on America's longest war.
Reconciliation and the Taliban: Is Obama Revising Afghanistan Plan?
Credits
Guests:
- Jonathan Broder - Newsweek - @Newsweek
- Michael Semple - Harvard University
- Fauzia Kofi - Member, Afghan Parliament
- Rachel Reid - Afghanistan Researcher, Human Rights Watch
- Austin Long - Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University