Republicans go around saying that the president has mismanaged the war in Afghanistan but if he defends himself, he’s just politicizing our successes. It’s a version of ‘heads I win, tails you lose,’ and it’s pretty annoying. Rather than the constant bitching, the GOP should be asking important questions, like Joe Gandleman:
President Barack Obama’s lightning trip to Afghanistan to address the nation about ending a war that has lasted longer than Veitnam, sign a long-term partnership pact with the Afghanistan government, and mark the the anniversary of Al Qaeda terrorism chief Osama bin Laden’s death with American troops could re-ignite Afghanistan as an issue on several fronts. The trip and news that the U.S. will formally have a long term relationship with Afghanistan that will involve keeping troops there is getting a mixed response. A way to keep Afghanistan from returning to its old role as an Al Qaeda base? Another Vietnam? Smart strategical policy? Or the U.S. (again) getting enmeshed in a quagmire?
If you were expecting Republicans to ask these questions, you haven’t been paying attention to how they go about their business. Joe Scarborough explains:
Be more concerned with the president’s declaration that U.S. troops will be in Afghanistan until 2024. That reality means Americans who were not even born on Sept. 11, 2001, will be occupying Afghanistan 20 years after those attacks. Never mind that the epicenter of Al Qaeda’s operation has moved to Yemen or that U.S. taxpayers are doling out $2 billion a week on a war whose main purpose is propping up one of the most corrupt regimes on the face of the Earth.
Making matters worse is the fact that Mr. Obama’s opponents in the GOP want to stay longer.
I’m kind of inclined to Scarborough’s view, but I have to note that the president was fairly clear in his remarks that the goal is to end the “occupation” of Afghanistan in 2014.
Third, we are building an enduring partnership. The agreement we signed today sends a clear message to the Afghan people: as you stand up, you will not stand alone. It establishes the basis of our cooperation over the next decade, including shared commitments to combat terrorism and strengthen democratic institutions. It supports Afghan efforts to advance development and dignity for their people. And it includes Afghan commitments to transparency and accountability, and to protect the human rights of all Afghans – men and women, boys and girls.
Within this framework, we will work with the Afghans to determine what support they need to accomplish two narrow security missions beyond 2014: counter-terrorism and continued training. But we will not build permanent bases in this country, nor will we be patrolling its cities and mountains. That will be the job of the Afghan people.
In the best scenario, we’ll get our combat soldiers out of the country, the government will not collapse, and we’ll be able to convince Congress to give the Afghans aid for up to a decade. We will, along with our NATO partners, still have some military presence in Afghanistan, but it will be more like our military presence in Egypt or Saudi Arabia. That’s the plan, anyway.
I’d be more enthusiastic about it if I didn’t know that Karzai is a hopeless leader.
