Can Afghanistan good war survive bad headlines?
Published Date: August 18, 2009 By Paul Eckert Afghanistan’s presidential election amid a US troop buildup and surging Taleban violence brings pressure on Washington to show results in a war the president has made the centerpiece of his foreign policy. The Aug. 20 presidential vote comes after the deployment of some 30,000 extra U.S. troops that has raised the level of American forces to 62,000. Combat deaths are rising and polls show a softening of public backing for the eight-year war. President Barack Obama, by following up on his campaign vow to wind down the unpopular Iraq war and shift resources to the older campaign in Afghanistan, has drawn fresh public attention back to that country – increasing pressure to show progress. “We all feel the impatience and pressure of the American public and the Congress, which legitimately wants to see progress,” Said Richard Holbrooke, US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Asked to define success in that campaign, he said: “In the simp
