Obama's Aides Clash on Afghan Policy

Legendary Watergate journalist Bob Woodward has turned his eyes on President Obama’s administration in a new book, Obama’s Wars, which claims much of the national security team disagrees on Afghan policy. In fact, the book claims many of the top aides have spent the last 20 months quarrelling over what policy to take, and the top White House adviser on national security and his special envoy believe the president’s strategy won't work. According to the book, of which the New York Times obtained an early copy, Obama said from the beginning he had only two years to go public on the Afghan strategy and he set a withdrawal timeline because he did not want to “lose the whole Democratic primary.” Some personality clashes were revealed as well, including Vice President Joe Biden calling Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. Special Envoy Afghanistan and Pakistan, the “most egotistical bastard I’ve ever known.” Woodward also reports that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is believed to be manic-depressive.