Growing PR War In Afghanistan

Words of the Day

“My sense is that the tough fighting will continue; indeed it may get more intense in the next few months” – Gen. David Petraeus during a Senate hearing on his nomination

Obama Administration Turns To Gen. Petraeus To Clean Up Mess

The Obama Administration is fighting a continued PR battle in the war in Afghanistan.  

First it was opposition to the surge in forces, then an outcry to a public deadline for withdrawal. 

But that was nothing compared with the bombshell dropped by Gen. Stanley McChrystal in a piece in Rolling Stone magazine, in which the former commander of the Afghanistan war criticized the Administration’s handling of the war – and that it was not being won.  The article quoted McChrystal and his staff disparaging their civilian counterparts in the administration, including Obama, the U.S. envoy to the region and the U.S. ambassador.

Faster than a speeding bullet, McChrystal was relieved of his command – which was necessary in the wake of the vitriolic conversation with the Rolling Stone freelancer. 

President Obama turned to Gen. David Petraeus as the new commander in Afghanistan – who is going before Congress this week to reassure an anxious nation that NATO-led troops are making headway amid fraying public support of the war. 

Petraeus, one of the most respected and revered military minds, has vowed work closely – and nicely – with his civilian counterparts to launch another PR offensive on the war effort. 

The four-star general is credited with turning around the war in Iraq.  He has a big hill to climb in Afghanistan.  Not only must he reassure an increasingly doubtful public, but he is taking over the force as the death toll of foreign soldiers fighting the Taliban vaulted to 100 for the month of June alone.

Gen. Petraeus, the Obama administration and the Armed Forces have a long PR war ahead. 

WordSmith – and the world – is watching!

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