Why Is a Progressive Think Tank Telling Obama to Escalate the War in Afghanistan?
By Tom Hayden Posted on March 27, 2009, Printed on March 27, 2009 http://www.alternet.org/story/133612/ The Center for American Progress has positioned itself as a “progressive” Washington think tank, especially suited to channel new thinking and expertise into the Obama administration. It therefore is deeply disappointing that CAP has issued a call for a ten-year war in Afghanistan, including an immediate military escalation, just as President Obama prepares to unveil his Afghanistan/Pakistan policies to the American public and NATO this week. It is likely that Obama will follow most of CAP’s strategic advice, assuming the think tank to be the progressive wing of what’s possible within the Beltway. That means a long counter-insurgency war ahead, with everything from massive incarcerations and detention to Predator strikes that amass increasing civilian casualties. CAP begins by calling on the president to meet the request of his commander in Afghanistan for another 15,000 troops in ad
