Pullout Policy

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Steeper Pullout Raised as Option for Afghanistan,” details a logical reconsideration of policy by President Obama as the day draws near to determine how many troops will be pulled out from Afghanistan.

With a coming meeting of the National Security Council to make this decision, the familiar battle line between Vice President Biden on one side and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plus Defense Secretary Gates on the other will be reprised. However, other members of the President’s security advisors will change with the non-hawk Thomas Donilon appointed as head of the National Security Council and Leon Panetta, who favors unmanned drone attacks, moving over to Defense Secretary with the coming departure of Mr. Gates.

Undeniably, the killing of Osama bin Laden will play a key role in the discussions. In addition to achieving this major foreign policy goal, the President has many other Al Qaeda operatives on the run thanks to the treasure trove of information found at the Bin Laden compound.

And it’s important to also note that the drawdown concerns only the surge troops, some 30,000 military men, sent in addition to the force already there. The rest of the force will not be affected until the timetable for complete withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2014 is considered.