Afghanistan MIssion Creep Watch - War of Necessity/War of Choice Version Posted by Michael Cohen

Ok so I'm supposed to be on vacation right now, but the AMCW must roll on.

Today's must read is Richard Haass's thoughtful op-ed in the New York Times about why the war in Afghanistan is a war of choice and should be judged as such. Now Haass comes down on the view that the American interests in Afghanistan are "sufficiently important" to continue the current mission. I don't agree, but that's fine. Haass does two things that are really important - first he shows the folly of President Obama's war of necessity argument for Afghanistan and makes clear that there must be limits to a war of choice:

There needs to be a limit to what the United States does in Afghanistan and how long it is prepared to do it, lest we find ourselves unable to contend with other wars, of choice or of necessity, if and when they arise.

Second, Haasss gives creedence to military options in Afghanistan other than continuing on the current course or withdrawal:

There are alternatives to current American policy. One would reduce our troops’ ground-combat operations and emphasize drone attacks on terrorists, the training of Afghan police officers and soldiers, development aid and diplomacy to fracture the Taliban.

Whether one believes this is the right approach or not, I am pleased that Haass has shown a willingness to consider a multitude of options on what to in Afghanistan - not the strawman arguments that often define this debate.

Read the whole piece.

Bernard Finel also makes some smart points about the Haass piece.

Ok, back to vacation.

Comments

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This is similar to the discussion Thomas Rid and "SNLII" on Kings of War.

http://kingsofwar.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/the-benefits-of-victory/#comments

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