Afghan Rift? It's Just 'Smoke and Puffery'

There’s been much consternation recently about the supposed break between the White House and Stanley McChrystal over strategy in Afghanistan. But it’s really all “smoke and puffery,” a political ruse perpetrated by John McCain and some neocon compatriots, writes Joe Klein in Time. The furor has centered over McChrystal’s statement that a counterterrorism strategy would be “shortsighted.” But Obama has already told congressional leaders essentially the same thing.

The neocons are portraying the military’s “all-in” option of sending 40,000 more troops as the only outcome generals could countenance. In reality, McChrystal offered Obama three options, with 40,000 at the high-end and 10,000 at the low. Obama will almost certainly take the low or middle recommendation. Forgotten in all this is the rest of McChrystal’s London speech, which was a wonderfully honest assessment of the challenges in Afghanistan. “When I am asked what approach we should take,” the general said, “I say humility.” (More Joe Klein stories.)