This text consists of excerpts from Bob Woodward's Obama's Wars, documenting the extensive and highly contested strategic review process undertaken by the new administration regarding the conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan (AfPak). The central narrative focuses on the deep divisions between military leaders, notably Generals David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal, who pressed for a massive troop surge to execute a full counterinsurgency doctrine, and White House political advisors, including Vice President Joe Biden, who favored a limited counterterrorism strategy. Throughout numerous high-level meetings, participants debated the reliability of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the necessity of eliminating Taliban safe havens in Pakistan, and the political sustainability of a prolonged war effort. President Barack Obama ultimately authorized 30,000 additional troops, but his insistence on setting an 18-to-24-month timeline for transition sparked intense frustration and resentment among military and intelligence officials who felt the decision was politically motivated. The excerpts also highlight the underlying tensions and mistrust between the civilian leadership and the uniformed military, which often resulted in strategic leaks and ...

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.