The Bush Administration finds itself pinned by a dilemma of its own making: Yesterday the Bush administration approved the request from Gen. McKiernan for three additional brigades to shore up the beleaguered effort in Afghanistan, but it announced no corresponding withdrawals from Iraq, despite indications that it would not be possible to increase levels in Afghanistan without either reducing force levels in Iraq or once again increasing Army deployments from 12 to 15 months. As instability rises in Afghanistan, more forces are needed to push the Taliban back and assist in training Afghan security forces. Meanwhile, despite Sen. McCain’s claims of success, the situation in Iraq remains highly fragile, as tensions continue to mount over the disputed city of Kirkuk, integration of Sunni security forces, and the status of provincial elections.

Pentagon approves troops for Afghanistan, but does not announce corresponding withdrawals from Iraq. “A request by Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, for three U.S. brigades with support staff has been approved.” But the Bush administration made no corresponding commitment to drawdown in Iraq, and it is unclear how more troops can be deployed to Afghanistan without further straining the military. President Bush is “reluctant to endorse deep or rapid reductions if they jeopardized his goal of establishing a stable and democratic government in Baghdad.” But according to Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell, “We really have to get down in Iraq below 15 brigade combat teams for us to consider adding multiple additional brigades to Afghanistan.”  [US News and World Report, 8/19/08. NY Times, 7/13/08. AFP, 5/06/08]

Instability and violence continue to plague the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Violence in Afghanistan is at its highest point since 2001, while uncertainty rises in neighboring Pakistan on the heels of President Musharraf’s resignation. In Afghanistan, “the push by the insurgents has taken a rising toll. Before the attack on Monday, 173 foreign soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan this year, including 99 Americans. In all of 2007, 232 foreign troops were killed, the highest number since the war began in 2001.” NATO and Pentagon officials have maintained that the increasing violence is partially the result of the “greater freedom of movement the militants have in Pakistan’s tribal areas on the Afghan border,” a problem exacerbated by discord within Pakistan’s governing coalition following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. [NY Times, 8/20/08. NY Times, 8/20/08]

Political instability continues to threaten security gains in Iraq. In Iraq, numerous political fault lines continue to fester and could threaten security gains. First, provincial elections, which were “seen as vital to reconciling the deep-seated tensions among Iraq’s political and sectarian groups,” have been postponed indefinitely. At the same time, political grievances continue to fester in Kirkuk, where the “explosive quarrel over the city is one major barrier to creating stable political structures in the rest of Iraq.” Finally, tensions remain high between Sunnis and Shia, while efforts at political reconciliation have stalled, especially over the integration of Sunni security forces into the Iraqi army. In Diyala yesterday, Shia-dominated Iraqi security forces raided the headquarters of the provincial government, killed a Sunni provincial official, and engaged in gun battles with local police. The attack was “reminiscent of the sectarian attacks once carried out regularly by Shiite-dominated security forces [and] could inflame sectarian tensions in the fragile province.” [Financial Times, 5/07/08. NY Times, 8/18/08. CSM, 7/29/08. NY Times, 8/19/08]

Quick Hits

In the wake of the killing of 10 French paratroopers yesterday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy traveled to Afghanistan to emphasize France’s commitment to the fight effort against the Taliban.

Twin car bombings killed at least 11 in Algeria this morning, following yesterday’s suicide bombings that killed 43.

The U.S. and Poland signed the missile defense pact— strongly opposed by Russia— that will place U.S. missiles in Poland .

The Telegraph explores the role Russia’s lack of control over Caspian oil has played in the fighting in Georgia.

As the Red Cross enters Georgia, evidence of ethnic killings – some apparently targeted, some connected to looting and long-time score-settling -- has emerged.

Time Magazine analyzes the United States’ fondness for military leaders over democratically elected politicians in Pakistan.

David Ignatius writes in today’s Washington Post about how John McCain’s fondness for “zingers” and “rhetoric of confrontation” indicates a reckless and dangerous approach to foreign policy.

Der Spiegel analyzes German, European and NATO relations with Russia in the wake of the Georgia conflict.

Articles in the Chicago Tribune and the Christian Science Monitor exploring the situation in Pakistan feature analysis and commentary from the National Security Network.