More and more, it looks as though President Barack Obama is going to adopt a “split the difference” policy on Afghanistan that will basically continue current strategy – and likely lead to catastrophe.

Obama told congressional leaders Tuesday that he does not intend to reduce U.S. troop levels, but he described his war aims strictly in terms of “targeting Al Qaeda,” not defeating its Taliban allies.

What I’ve been hearing for weeks is that he intends to complete his planned deployment of 68,000 troops in Afghanistan – then hold at that level – and reject his military commanders’ call for up to 40,000 additional troops.

This presumably would satisfy his fellow Democrats, who adamantly oppose the “surge” recommended by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, without openly signaling that he intends to retreat from Afghanistan.

When he unveils the strategy, it likely will be gussied up with declarations that the United States will step up civilian aid, anticorruption activities, training of Afghan forces and measures to destroy terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The problem with this “counterterrorism” strategy is that, with a few new wrinkles, it’s a continuation of what’s going on at present – ironically, the policy that he inherited from former President George W. Bush.

And this policy is plainly losing Afghanistan to the Taliban and increasing the likelihood that Afghanistan could once again become a sanctuary for Al Qaeda and Taliban operations against Pakistan.