The debate over Afghanistan
Posted: Monday, October 12, 2009 4:25 PM by Daily Nightly Editor
Filed Under:
Ann Curry
By Ann Curry, NBC News anchor
In tonight for Brian Williams, and can offer you an interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, conducted over the weekend in Zurich, during which she gives NBC News a rare glimpse into the intensity of the administration's internal debate over Afghanistan.
"What is going on in this analysis, is the kind of deep, stripped down investigation of assumptions," Secretary Clinton said, adding, "This process has certainly clarified for me, some of what we're up against. Kind of cleared away some of the mythology. And the presumptions."
She gave our news team the impression, that this war review is both intellectually challenging and emotionally intense, and that the wrangling was over the consequences of options that have not yet been made public.
Just Friday, White house spokesman Robert Gibbs said the President's final decision is still "weeks away."
We asked Secretary Clinton, given that in the weeks the President has already taken to conduct this review at least 10 US troops have died in Afghanistan, what is taking so long.
"Well, first of all, every one of those deaths...weighs heavily on all of us who are sitting around the table in the situation room.. When we make the decision and when we recommend to the President what we believe he should do, we're going to be all in," the Secretary said.
VIDEO: 'Eyes are wide open' in Afghanistan
Listening to her describe this struggle behind the scenes for the administration to present a united front now eight years into this war, Bill Cahir's face came into my mind. A former Senator Ted Kennedy aide and a journalist, Bill at age 34 suddenly joined the marines as a grunt, though he had the college degree to be an officer. His wife Renee told me he joined because he felt America needed him to step up. Like the 68,000 other troops now in Afghanistan, he had no choice but to put his faith in the hands of our military and political leaders.
Trying to put myself in their shoes, I imagine they must sometimes feel like sitting ducks, operating a strategy that will likely change, once their leaders to make up their minds. Bill was scared when he went to Afghanistan on his third tour of duty last summer, but Renee says his loyalty to his fellow marines and their mission made him go. He left having just learned his wife Renee was pregnant for the first time, and with twins.
He will never meet his twin girls. Bill died on the front lines of Helmand Province last August, one of more than 872 US troops so far who won't come home from Afghanistan alive.
"I think everyone's aware that we never, in the prior administration, as a country, gave sufficient attention to Afghanistan."
We can't turn the clock back. We can't recover those eight years. But during these eight months, we've learned—that we've got to be right about our commitments. And our expectations. Our military leaders are participating in these discussions. You know, one is at the table. One is on the video screen. Our ambassadors for example Islamabad and Kabul are participating."
My father, career military and a war veteran, would be glad the President is listening to all parties. But he used to say politicians shouldn't ultimately be in charge of wars, because they lack the personal war experience that is critical to show the way to peace.
With all due respect, Dad, I really hope you are wrong about that.
Secretary Clinton on Afghanistan and whether her role has been marginalized, the street fight over health care, and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in economics all will figure in our broadcast tonight.
