Afghanistan: Understanding a U.S. Troop Surge

U.S. President Barack Obama may approve the 40,000 additional troops for Afghanistan that the senior commander there, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has requested. While this is not yet a done deal, the question becomes one of implementation. McChrystal has clearly articulated a long-term counterinsurgency strategy. But just how effective these additional troops can be — especially in the time frame allotted for their success — remains an open-ended question.