The Next Afghan Strategy Looks Like It’ll Focus on the Counterterrorism Question
If it’s true, as reported, that the question of the CIA’s drone strikes against al-Qaeda in Pakistan is bolstering support for the so-called counterterrorism option in the Obama administration’s Afghanistan/Pakistan strategy, then tomorrow’s meeting at the White House looks, from the attendance sheet, like it’ll debate precisely that issue. Here’s the just-released list of scheduled participants:
“„Vice President Biden
“„Secretary of State Clinton
“„Secretary of Defense Gates
“„Ambassador Susan Rice, Permanent US Representative to the United Nations
“„Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
“„Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
“„General David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command
“„General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Commander in Afghanistan (via videoconference)
“„Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence
“„CIA Director Leon Panetta
“„Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (via videoconference)
“„Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (via videoconference)
“„General James Jones, National Security Advisor
“„Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor
“„John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
Brennan, one of Obama’s most important advisers, wasn’t in last week’s meeting; neither was Donilon or Rice.
