Tough choice coming up

Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is expected to present a top-priority report this week to President Barack Obama.

It will contain the Army general’s opinion on whether more American soldiers and Marines are needed to protect Afghan civilians, train and enlarge the country’s police agencies, wage offensives against burgeoning enemy forces and help protect existing American and coalition troops.

The Washington Post has reported that McChrystal’s report is expected to call for as many as 25,000 additional troops, over and above the 17,000 troops Obama has authorized to be phased in through the end of this year. The Wall Street Journal has reported that McChrystal is expected to ask for at least 10,000 more troops.

Either way, a request for a substantial troop buildup seems certain, particularly because this month McChrystal, according to the Journal, said enemy fighters have gained the upper hand.

Assuming McChrystal does ask for more troops, Obama will face a difficult decision. Skepticism about the conduct of the war, in light of its eight long years and mounting U.S. casualties, is being expressed by some congressional Democrats.

The Post reported last week, for example, that Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., said he is “not convinced that simply pouring more and more troops into Afghanistan is a well-thought-out strategy.”

Just as concerning for Obama is a Washington Post-ABC News poll released last week showing that 51 percent of Americans are now saying the war in Afghanistan is not worth fighting.

We elect presidents to make the tough decisions, and what to do about troop levels in Afghanistan will be one of Obama’s toughest. Carrying on with the status quo is not really an option. But adding forces at a time of dropping public support for the war will draw criticism from the left, and pulling forces out — while Osama bin Laden is still at large — will draw criticism from the right.

Obama should consider the record number of losses among American troops in recent weeks. They obviously are undermanned and need reinforcements. We believe he should send more troops, if only because it is not right to put our current forces in harm’s way without providing the backup to keep them as safe as possible.