Day By Day November 24, 2009 – The Do-Over President

President Obama will likely announce his Afghanistan policy next Tuesday during a prime time television newscast.

What has taken Obama so long? Obama held his ninth formal Afghanistan strategy session in the White House Situation Room last night.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement: “After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision and he will announce that decision within days.”

The decision is shaping up as one of the most momentous of Obama’s presidency, coming as the public is turning negative toward the war effort and his fellow Democrats are growing increasingly vocal in their opposition to a troop buildup in Afghanistan.

Obama’s decisions about his strategy are not known. But administration officials expect him to announce an increase of 20,000 to 40,000 additional troops in Afghanistan, a victory for his commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

McChrystal has argued that “success is achievable” in Afghanistan with proper resources, and 40,000 troops was his middle — and preferred — recommendation in a set of three options he presented in his own strategic review. They would join 68,000 U.S. troops there now.

And, how many trial baloons will there be floated between now and next week?

With Obama’s statements having an expiration date, he is looking like Jimmy Carter and his indecisive, wavering foreign policy every week.

With the announcement next week, buried right before Thanksgiving, it continues to look like Obama is conflicted in Afghanistan decision making. Want this one of John McCain’s and Hillary Clinton’s main arguments against the Obama Presidency? Untested as Commander in Chief?

PLUS CA CHANGE

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