While Obama agonizes over how to choose among only bad options in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Daniel Elsberg reports that Pentagon insiders, who understand that the Afghan war cannot be won militarily, nonetheless have told Obama he must approve McChrystal’s troop escalation plan. If he doesn’t they threaten that top generals will resign their posts and launch a public attack accusing the President of abandoning a “winnable” war and being “soft on terrorism.”

The Elsberg claim is reinforced by Seymour Hersh. He says a powerful faction in the Pentagon has launched “a war against the White House” over troop commitments and overall strategy. Hersh reports many hawkish military leaders think Obama is “weak and the wrong color.” He adds: “We may not like to think that, but it’s true.”

If Elsberg and Hersh are right, it would seem that the Pentagon wants another endless war and may be willing to blackmail their Commander-In-Chief to get their way. That used to be called treason.

It appears as if Obama won’t completely capitulate, but won’t face the war hawks down either.