Challenges for Obama security team

President-elect Obama has pledged to step up the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan: "Afghanistan is where the war on terro began, and it is where it must end."

Mr. Obama has already committed to send thousands more U-S troops to the country. But military experts warn that in some ways it’s a tougher war than the one in Iraq and Mr. Obama might be staking the reputation of his new national security team on a quagmire.

"The Takeaway" is joined by New York Times military correspondent, Michael Gordon who says: "If there is a central front in the war on terrorism, it’s really in Pakistan, not Afghanistan. But what happens in Afghanistan has an important bearing on the threat in Pakistan … these groups that are thought to have conducted the attacks in Mumbai very likely trained in the lawless areas in Pakistan that have joined Afghanistan."

"The Takeaway" is PRI’s new national morning news program, delivering the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what’s ahead. The show is a co-production of WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC, The New York Times Radio, and WGBH.

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