BBC reports that it has received advance word that Obama will authorize a substantial increase in troop deployment to Afghanistan, honouring General McChrystal's request. In doing so, Obama is now taking full ownership over the war from Bush. This means that the US will now pursue its counterinsurgency strategy of "clear, hold, build" in earnest - however it's unclear how they can achieve full victory if they still plan to pull back from the outlying areas of Afghanistan, effectively ceding them to the Taliban. At any rate, the fight is about to intensify, and India will not have to worry about a Pakistan/Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for some time yet.
Meanwhile, Tom Friedman complains that Karzai's corrupt govt endangers the country's stability.
Hmm - reminds me of a certain ruling party in India.
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