Must Reads: With Bin Laden Dead, Time To Leave Afghanistan
Bin Laden dead, time to leave Afghanistan?
Many Americans, already impatient with the war in Afghanistan, may take bin Laden’s death as a sign that the U.S. should declare victory and come home. This would allow Obama to deliver on his promise to begin drawing down forces there (while keeping up counterterrorism operations in Pakistan), but won’t go over well with the military brass, who want more time to “finish the job” in Afghanistan. [National Journal]
Pressure builds on Pakistan to come clean
The presence of the world’s most wanted man in a massive house in a military garrison town an hour from the nation’s capital puts Pakistan’s leadership in a tough spot. The U.S. has stopped short of accusing Pakistan of harboring Bin Laden, but has “strongly indicated it [wants] answers.” [New York Times]
White House backs away from key details on Bin Laden raid
Now in question: Did Bin Laden have a weapon and fire it during a shootout with U.S. forces? Was one of bin his wives killed in the raid? And was bin Laden using her as a human shield before she was shot by U.S. forces? [Politico]
Birthers, Trump looking even more ridiculous today
One one side, a president concerned with high-stakes life-or-death national security issues; on the other: political opponents fixated — some cynically, others insanely — on a conspiracy theory. [Washington Post]
Treasury Secretary gives Congress an extension on debt-ceiling vote
Timothy Geithner said on Monday he’ll set in motion emergency measures this week to head off a potential “catastrophic” default on the federal debt. He also said the U.S. now has until Aug. 2 to raise the legal limit on federal borrowing – 25 days longer than his last estimate – thanks to higher-than-anticipated tax revenues. [Washington Post]