Pentagon: Forget Afghan Democracy

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have urged President Obama to focus military efforts on securing Pakistan and routing the Taliban before chasing loftier goals of democracy and economic stability in Afghanistan. The recommendations are included in a secret Pentagon report, according to Politico. Obama is expected to announce a redeployment of troops to the region in an effort to quell insurgent violence, which last year claimed the lives of 2,100 civilians. Obama has not yet seen the report but made Afghanistan a central issue of his campaign and promised to focus his efforts there while downsizing U.S. influence in Iraq.