The Rolling Stones story on US General Stanley A McChrystal’s comments on President Barrack Obama and his team has brought to the fore not just the uneasy civil-military relations in the United States, but also a major divide in the Obama national security team on the war in Afghanistan. McChrystal’s counter insurgency (COIN) strategy of ‘clear, hold, build and transfer’ hinged on more ‘boots on the ground’ to reduce use of aerial power and consequent civilian casualties, provide protection to the populace and build on the host nation’s trust and capacity, was opposed by the rest of Obama’s Af-Pak team.

<p><table width='100%' border=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td style='FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #0253B7;'><B>Shanthie Mariet D'Souza:</B> Afghanistan - Deminting a General&#39;s COIN</td></tr><tr><tr><td style='FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11px; '>President Obama

Shanthie Mariet D'Souza: Afghanistan - Deminting a General's COIN

President Obamas dismissal of General McChrystal has laid to rest doubts on the continuity of US strategy, but victory still seems a distant prospect

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