No major changes expected in Afghan strategy: Obama administration

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has concluded that its war strategy in Afghanistan is sound and that a December review, once seen as a pivotal moment, is unlikely to yield any major changes.

This resolve arises despite experts and former officials being convinced that the administration’s path in Afghanistan is unsustainable and its objectives unclear.

According to the Washington Post, the White House calculus is that the strategy retains enough public and political support to weather any near-term objections.

“The fundamentals are in the place where they should be. I don’t think we’ll be changing the channel come December,” a senior administration official said.

Administration officials hope that acceptable, if not perfect, parliamentary elections in Afghanistan this weekend will buttress their case.

Over the next three months, they say they expect measurable military progress in five areas outlined for Obama this week by Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, according to several officials authorized to discuss the situation on the condition of anonymity.

Those areas include the elimination of Taliban sanctuaries outside the city of Kandahar and continued targeting of senior and mid-level insurgent leaders by U.S. Special Operations forces.

The State Department has its own metrics, which include counting the number of development projects and newly installed local officials. (ANI)