PENTAGON DOUBTS McCHRYSTAL WAR PLAN
McChrystal hopes for extension past mid-2011

"Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's plan for wresting the Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar from the Taliban... have raised serious doubts among top military officials in Washington about whether the plan is going to work... even more serious concerns are being expressed behind the scenes... The key finding is that the Taliban have "reinfiltrated the cleared areas" of Helmand and "dissuaded locals from meeting with the Afghan government" by executing some who had initially collaborated. The overall negative tone of the analysis of what happened in Helmand appears to reflect a decision by Pentagon officials to withhold its vote of confidence in the McChrystal war plan...

"McChrystal's staff has made no secret of their hope to convince the U.S. public that his strategy... should be extended past mid-2011, when President Obama has said he would begin a U.S. military withdrawal and transition to Afghan responsibility for security..."

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51376