Divisions, Harsh Realities Plague Obama's Afghan Surge --- When President Obama took office six years ago, among the many burdens he inherited were two costly and complex wars: Iraq and Afghanistan. -- He campaigned hard against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, calling it the “wrong war” and made good on a promise to end American involvement. The White House touts that as a crowning achievement despite Iraq battling insurgency and sectarian strife. -- The other war — Afghanistan — has posed a different set of dilemmas for the president. --- Just this week, Obama was reminded of the grim realities of 13 years of military engagement when a man dressed as an Afghan soldier killed a two-star American general, the highest ranking officer killed in combat since 1970, according to the Pentagon. -- The insider attack, claimed by the Taliban, has raised concerns about the hazards of the president’s exit plan — and the fragility of his Afghan policies. --- It was the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington September 11, 2001 that got the United States in Afghanistan to start with. -- Former president George W. Bush ordered an invasion to top topple the Taliban government and al-Qaida terrorists who were being given sanctuary – in particular, al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden. -- The Taliban regime was toppled in about two months time, but bin Laden escaped capture, to be found and killed by American special operation forces under Obama’s command a decade later. -- Bush continued his policy of counterterrorism military operations in Afghanistan, but soon turned his attention towards Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as the number one national security threat against the United States. --- Critics say that switch in focus was a key misstep — one that would inform the narrative of Obama’s policy when he took office in 2009. - More, http://www.voanews.com/content/divisions-harsh-relalities-plague-obamas-afghan-surge/2405842.html