No End In Sight. . .In Afghanistan

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(photo credit: Spencer Ackerman) US military crusade chronicler Spencer Ackerman has written a long, thoughtful treatment of the issues and players wrestling over the tough calls President Obama must soon make on America’s course in Afghanistan. It’s titled “The Decision” and appears in The National.

Matthew Hoh: US Has Lost Track of Why It is In Afghanistan

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Matthew Hoh, the first US government official to formally resign his post because of objections to America’s course in Afghanistan, makes a compelling case that America has lost its strategic sensibilities in this war which President Obama has adopted as “the good war”.

Seven Minutes with Daniel Yergin

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Daniel Yergin has issued an updated version of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. When I asked why he chose to release an update of his earlier work, Yergin identified four key factors that have to be added to the energy policy picture.

Washington Note Headlines — 2 November 2009

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Karzai Declared Winner. Abdullah Abdullah withdraws from runoff amid concerns about systemic fraud in election system — and Karzai is declared winner. Intrade never had much doubt in the outcome. Clinton Schedules Then Retracts Meeting with Japan Foreign Minister Okada.

Lawrence Wilkerson Comments on South Carolina’s Worst

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This is a guest note by Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff at the Department of State from 2001-2005 and a sixteen-year long aide to General Colin Powell. He now serves as Harriman Adjunct Professor of Government at the College of William & Mary. South Carolina’s Worst My father was a life-long Republican.