"People talked about how good of a commander he's got in the field and [Obama] agreed. People said he ought to put a lot of stock in what that commander says, and he agreed with that. Of course, others pointed out that there's a chain of command above McChrystal that he ought to listen to, and he agreed with that as well," Levin said.
But Levin said that story was overblown and that the president and his field commander are on the same page.
"There's no rift with McChrystal," said Levin, "[Obama] said he picked McChrystal and he wants McChrystal to be direct ... He reiterated that McChrystal is very supportive of the deliberative process and getting the strategy right before focusing on the troop levels or resources."
Obama has also ruled out a large reduction of forces as far left liberal Democrats have been insisting on.
Obama stopped short, however, of saying whether he will give McChrystal the additional troops he has asked for, saying they are needed to win the war.
General Stanley McChrystal's public words on Afghanistan makes it clear there is no middle ground, no ability to maintain the status quo, and Obama is going to have to make a decision.
Relations between the general and the White House began to sour when his report, which painted a grim picture of the allied mission in Afghanistan, was leaked. White House aides have since briefed against the general's recommendations.
The general has responded with a series of candid interviews as well as the speech. He told Newsweek he was firmly against half measures in Afghanistan: "You can't hope to contain the fire by letting just half the building burn."
Refusing to reduce the troops levels, despite pressure from his base, was the right decision from Obama, who called the war in Afghanistan one of "necessity," during his campaigning, but should he decide against giving McChrystal the troops he needs to actually win, Obama would, indeed, be letting half the building burn.
Military officials are warning that the war in Afghanistan will be won or lost in the next 12 months and should Obama back his general and agree to the additional troops, he will be fighting hard against his own base and his own party leaders, some of which are already trying to propose bills that would prevent funding for additional troops, even before Obama has made his final decision.
The clock is ticking for Obama and his decision could determine whether we win or lose the war in Afghanistan and his own party leaders are upping the ante against him.
Amazingly enough, Obama is having to look to Republicans to support him, in regards to Afghanistan and should he back McChrystal and agree to the additional troops, he will get the support he needs from the GOP.
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