The President is sending is more soldiers and changing commanders in Afghanistan. General David McKiernan has now been replaced by Lt. General Stanley McChrystal, “a rising superstar” who’ll be leading “an all-star team.” Some conservatives praise him for starting to nation-build. But powerful Democrats want to know if he’s making an open-ended commitment that can’t be sustained, like previous Presidents in Vietnam. Obama says the real issue is the threat from al Qaeda, but even General David Petraeus says al Qaeda’s now totally in Pakistan. Is the war still legal? Will more violence be counterproductive, especially with increased civilian casualties?
Will Afghanistan Be President Obama's Vietnam?
Credits
Guests:
- David Ignatius - Washington Post / Harvard's Kennedy School of Government - @IgnatiusPost
- James McGovern - Congressman (D-MA)
- Andrew Exum - The Atlantic - @exumam
- John Mueller - Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University
- Doug Saunders - Globe and Mail