There is concern among senior Democrats that the military is preparing to send up to 30,000 extra troops without a coherent plan or exit strategy.

The Pentagon was set to announce the deployment of 17,000 extra soldiers and marines last week but Defense Secretary Robert Gates postponed the decision after questions from Obama.

The president was concerned by a lack of strategy at his first meeting with Gates and the U.S. joint chiefs of staff last month in “the tank,” the secure conference room in the Pentagon. He asked: “What’s the endgame?” and did not receive a convincing answer.

Obama promised an extra 7,000-10,000 troops during the election campaign but the military has inflated its demands. Leading Democrats fear Afghanistan could become Obama’s “Vietnam quagmire.”

Below is the “End Game”

There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.”
– General George Patton Jr

“War is an art and as such is not susceptible of explanation by fixed formula”
– General George Patton Jr

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