This is a Cato special podcast. I'm Caleb Brown.

President Obama has a critical decision on Afghanistan coming up and none of his choices will win him many political

points. An expanded commitment to Afghanistan could mean years if not decades of additional

American blood and treasure. Cato Senior Fellow Doug Bandau comments.

The election mess just makes the decision harder for the president.

I mean any counterinsurgency strategy has to be based upon having a partner

that works, having a functioning government, having local Afghans who have

legitimacy and what we've seen quite frankly as President Karzai having local Afghans who have legitimacy.

And what we've seen, quite frankly,

is President Karzai has none of that.

Everyone agrees he, you know, he or at least his supporters

stole the election.

The runoff isn't taking place

because his opponent is dropped out.

Corruption is endemic. The New York Times ran a story claiming that his brother is even on the CIA payroll.

The mere fact that he agreed to a runoff under pressure makes him look more like an American

tote, I think we have enormous problems here.

How can you put more troops into support this regime?

On the issue of legitimacy with the Karzai regime, it seems as if anything that happens for the next

several months in Afghanistan really enhances the profile of the Taliban.

Well, from the Taliban standpoint, you have the Pashtunes who don't necessarily like the Taliban.

On the other hand, these are kind of their people, and the Taliban are fighting people

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