Today, Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), the National Security Network's Senior Adviser, released the following statement examining President Obama's impending speech on Afghanistan:

"President Obama's address tonight from the most storied of military academies, West Point, will serve as the culmination of a deliberative and crucial process: developing a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan, something the Bush administration failed to do for nearly eight years. As opposed to that Administration's Iraq surge strategy--which was forged by a small group of retired generals and think-tank pundits over the course of four months--President Obama sought the counsel of generals on active duty and a wide ranging group of civilian leaders.  Illustrating how the military in a democratic society has a vital role but not the last word, the Obama administration took General McChrystal's plan, war-gamed it, red-teamed it, challenged it, and only then, got the Commander in Chief to sign it.  In so doing, I expect we will see the full power of the United States--diplomatic, economic and military--brought to bear on our foreign policy challenge in Afghanistan.
 
"For conservatives and the media, there has been a fixation on how many troops Obama will send to Afghanistan, citing Iraq as a guidepost.  That surge indeed yielded results, but for reasons far beyond just the influx of more troops. Iran became convinced that the United States was not exhausted, the Sunni Sheiks got on board with US forces as the better option and the al-Maliki government backed away from the abyss of ethnic warfare.  Finally--and importantly--US forces were deployed away from the huge forward operating bases into small units in order to turn greater responsibility over to local Iraqi security forces.
 
"The actual number of US forces in the surge was far less important than the message the combat power increase transmitted.
 
"And this is a lesson I hope President Obama will impart to the nation tonight:  the troop numbers are all very interesting, but it is the message and strategy that will resonate most.
 
"This speech will add discipline and a strategic objective to an eight year old project that had none.  A description of an end-game to our direct military involvement in the region is essential.  Without one, continued drift is the only outcome."