powell sceptical on afghanistan

From the NYT:

Among the most important outside voices has been that of former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, a retired four-star Army general, who visited Mr. Obama in the Oval Office this month and expressed skepticism that more troops would guarantee success. According to people briefed on the discussion, Mr. Powell reminded the president of his longstanding view that military missions should be clearly defined.

Don't breach my doctrine, dude.

Obama's key advisers are split down the middle: Hobrooke, Clinton, McChrystal and Petraeus on one side, Jones, Biden, Kerry and Emanuel on the other. This has got to be the most agonising decision any president could make. It's lonely at the top.

Comments

[peter]

Can anyone provide an example - just one will do - of a military mission that Colin Powell thought WAS clearly-defined? The lesson he seems to have taken from Vietnam is "Fight no foreign wars", which sure is an odd doctrine for a general to uphold.

[Marbury]

Uh, Desert Storm? Anyway I'm not sure an excess of caution when it comes to war is a bad thing...even in a general.

[peter]

Ok, I think you are correct that Powell in the end supported operation Desert Storm. But not initially. He did so only after insisting on several months preparation time to build troop levels in the region and arrange logistics. I sure would not want him running my military if I ever experienced a surprise attack!