<![CDATA[RealClearPolitics - Articles by Ike Skelton And Joe Lieberman]]>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/authors/?id=19639Author <![CDATA[Don't Settle for Stalemate in Afghanistan]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Six months ago the Obama administration concluded that the only way to stop Afghanistan's slide into insecurity and prevent the reemergence of a terrorist haven was to put in place an integrated counterinsurgency strategy focused on protecting the Afghan population, building up the Afghan national security forces and improving Afghan governance.

We strongly supported the president's decision and continue to believe that he was right. He also made the right decision last week when, in a meeting with congressional leaders, he ruled out withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

The key question confronting the administration now is not whether to pursue counterinsurgency in...]]>