The Obama Administration

A major strategic decision in the Obama Administration was the way victory should be defined in Afghanistan. Many factors, opinions, and relationship dynamics came into play in the decision that our focus should be in Pakistan and that Afghanistan is really more of a sideshow. While at times Vice President Biden seems somewhat laughable, evidence shows that his ideas have a powerful impact on the decision that we cannot win in Afghanistan; we need a set time table for with draw and the key is Pakistan.

Biden first argues for a plan called counterterrorism plus in a National Security Council meeting. His longwinded explanation of how we must focus on al Qaeda in Pakistan may have had some rolling their eyes, but he did make valid points. Foreign relations in Afghanistan were almost impossible and additional troop presence there would just prolong failure. He also argued it was also not politically sustainable. Everyone, however, was in approval of another strategy and recommendations presented by Bruce Riedel, chairman of the Interagency Policy Review of Afghanistan-Pakistan (101-102).

Obama was then presented with the Riedel’s strategy and military options. The problem was that the military was trying to manipulate the president. He was presented with choices so ridiculous on both sides of the spectrum that the only logical choice was the one in the middle (103). Biden, however, was the only one that was not backing the option that Bruce Riedel and others supported (104). This refusal to support Riedel and others showed Obama that at least one person was in opposition to options that were calculating.

Army Lieutenant Stanley McChrystal was then appointed the new Afghanistan commander and was asked to deliver an assessment on t...

... middle of paper ...

... dynamics on decision making for the war in Afghanistan. Perseverance or perhaps annoyance might come to mind but in decisions this monumental it has to be something bigger then just that. Relationships may have a bigger impact. Biden offers an alternative solution so dramatic from Petraeus and other military officials that were antagonistic to the president’s desires. Obama was able to trust Biden to ask the right questions, push the right points, and have his interests in mind. It was this trust and Biden’s argument that actually understood the complexity of the situation and provided a insightful solution to the central problems that made him able to be such a key factor in the decision making process.

Woodward, Bob. Obama's Wars. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010. Print.

Works Cited

Woodward, Bob. Obama's Wars. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010. Print.