President Obama seems to be having a few problems deciding whether or not he should respond to General McClatchy's request for an additional 40,000 American troops or not, and his decision is being made harder by the usual infighting between the State Department and the Pentagon.

Do you think he should send more troops? If yes, how many should he send? If no, what do you think would be a reasonable plan for withdrawal of the troops that are there now?

Do you think that a decision to withdraw American troops would be seen as weakness on the part of the American government? Do you think it will embolden America's enemies?

Please keep the discussion civil, and follow the website's rules of conduct.

Thanks.

I think we need to withdraw our troops now,The American people are paying to high a price for these wars.I feel as though if these people want to live with terrorist then let them,lets take care of our people and our land,we can use the troops to patrol the borders to make sure people dont sneak in.Obama said in his speech when running for the president he was going to bring home our men and women that bush was wrong to send them there,well what happen to that? Bring our troops home and lets stop fighting everyones war for them.I dont think it will make us look weak but stronger,these murders will know, hey we cant attack America because all their troops are there and their strong,This war has been going on way to long and has cost way to much money,let the people of these counties fight for their own country and peace.As far as emboldening our enemies I dont think it will,they cant fight the whole world,to all the men and women who are serving this great country thank you very much and GOD BLESS YOU...

I can only assume keeping the borders save from intrusion is one of the problems the USA has, Warlock. That's why there is war in Afghanistan, which is a war at the source. Also by pulling back, the line of war just moves because the enemy will follow. So in the end rather having dead soldiers in Afghanistan, the USA would have dead soldiers at their borders. And that also might be a bit too close if you ask me.

I dont think we would have any dead soldiers at our borders since all our troops would be their, making them too strong for the enemy.You have to remember the U.S.A. did in a few months to the taliban what the Russians could not do in 10 years.So with that said you can see just how strong our military really is and having them all home instead of fighting other counties wars would make us that much stronger because than we would not be all over the place.I dont know what kind of programs you get in Germany,but here in America we have a channel that showed how our borders are so easy to come through and mexicans are using it for a bloody drug war,we need our troops to be position there ...its just in my opinion the U.S.A needs to stop fighting other counties wars for them,if they dont want or cant fight for their own county to bad,if they want these terrorist living with them well then they can live with them,soon these muslims terrorist will kill one another to the point we wont even have to worry about them...

My understanding of the American Constitution is that the regular military forces cannot be used on American soil, except in extreme circumstances and then only in humanitarian roles, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katerina.

The major problem with the US military is that it is far too small in terms of troop numbers. The Pentagon has been relying on weaponry and technology to fight wars when, in reality, it is men who fight wars. Because of these low troop levels, and because of the number of conflicts and policing actions the US has become involved in, rightly or wrongly, they have been forced to call up the National Guard, whose job is to protect the continental USA, not fight overseas.

If the States along the border weren't losing their National Guard to the international conflicts that are being fought, they would be able to assist the Border Patrol in maintaining control of the border regions.

Whether or not the US can win a war in Afghanistan is moot. I agree with Warlock. It is time for the US to concentrate on its own issues and allow other countries to deal with theirs. If all the money that has been spent in Iraq and Afghanistan had been spent on improving border security, and port security in the US, the US would be in a far less vulnerable position with regard to terrorists than it is today.

I honestly don't see where the US has accomplished anything in either of these wars. As the US has escalated its drone bombing raids, the numbers of soldiers and civilians who have died has escalated. It's a no win situation and the US and its allies should find a graceful way to bow out as soon as possible.

1,426,713 personnel currently active and 1,259,000 in the seven reserve componets.one source said we have one of the largest militarys in the world.Finding a graceful way out of all these wars would be a great thing,from your keyboard shieldmaiden to GODS ears.As far as all the money spent on these wars WOW there would not be one poor person in the U.S.A. if the U.S.A. gave one million to each family in the U.S.A......

Well, what can I say. You Americans wanted to rule the world, now you do rule the world and with that comes additional responsibility. ^.^
... and so it came that you became a "world police". ^.^

Anyways, I know about the USA's problems at its borders. But if the source of terrorism is left alone and the they could do whatever they want. The terrorists could and would multiply their forces. So soldiers are needed at the source trying always to cut down their numbers. And yeah, with enough soldiers it even may be possible to crush the terrorists and wipe them out. Meaning that sending now more soldiers may end this bloody war.

no America didnt want to rule the world,the terroist want to threaten peace, The source of terrorism needs to be meet by the other counties in this world that just want to sit on their butts,then and only than can we defeat the terrorist.I dont think sending more U.S.A. soldiers into this war will help.These terrorist are met by these tribe people as heros and they hide them.Ya have to remember these people shave all their hair off and look different..

I'm afraid I actually not listen to that kind of news, but the last time when I listened I understood that Germans don't do much, if anything in Afghanistan. I think Germans should send many soldier into this war because of that what they did in World War 2. I mean some how they must learn how to fight for the good thing for once, and stop being cowardly. I also know that once Barack Obama asked if not even begged the Germans to help to fight this war, however, I have the feeling that Germans are too passive here with this problem.

Surly, not only US soldiers should be increased in their numbers but also all other nation's forces. But maybe the USA has to lead as always.

Huh? Americans can't do war in their own country? This sounds strange...

Indeed when it comes to military hardware they are far ahead. Which may make them much more able to find and kill terrorists. But unlike on an open battlefield, the War on Terror is a bit different. I can only repeat myself:


I can only hope that terrorist are afraid of high-end military technology. ^.^
Though, of course when we come back to the question of whether or not more soldiers should go: I wonder how many soldiers are actually required to defeat the terror, because actually as far as I know, there are not so many terrorists. I think they are just hiding very well and ambushing. They have also home advantage. That's why they are such a problem. I believe even nuclear bombs are useless. Only countless civilians would die for nothing. Maybe they shouldn't send in more soldiers but more technology (and brain (provided they are not already using it)).