Troop Requests Draw Skepticism

Taking their time in deliberating over troop requests for Afghanistan, White House officials may end up with an entirely new strategy for the region. According to the Washington Post, senior administration officials are questioning basic premises of the war, like whether the Taliban and al Qaeda are inherently linked in their interests, a dialogue that could produce a new approach requiring fewer resources. "A lot of assumptions... were exposed to the light of day," one official said. Driving the conversation have been political changes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai's disputed election has cast doubts on whether his regime can be be a partner in rebuilding the country while neighboring Pakistan's recent push back against the Taliban in their country has convinced officials that it may be more stable than previously thought.