“Achieving our goals does not require us to.... defeat the Taliban in every corner of the country.... We don’t have to control every hamlet and village’’
Then we can COME HOME, right, John?
"Kerry said the United States could not quickly withdraw its 65,000 or so troops.... said he would support a moderate increase in US troops"
(Sigh!)
"Kerry wants Afghan expectations lowered; Says US can’t rout Taliban from entire country" by Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | October 27, 2009
WASHINGTON - Senator John F. Kerry defended President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan as “a patriot’’ yesterday and suggested that the United States should not try to make Afghanistan into a perfect democracy....
I think that mission has been accomplished.
And he defended Karzai, huh?
You know what happens when someone is given a vote of confidence, right?
Soon afterward, they are usually fired.
A PATRIOT STANDS ASIDE, right?
Kerry told the Council on Foreign Relations that the United States should radically lower its expectations for Afghanistan. In his most comprehensive remarks yet on his view of the way forward in Afghanistan, Kerry said there are no good options, but that transferring responsibility to an Afghan government that is capable of battling the Taliban offers the best chance for US troops to be able to come home.
“Achieving our goals does not require us to build a flawless democracy, defeat the Taliban in every corner of the country, or create a modern economy,’’ Kerry said. “What we’re talking about is ‘good-enough’ governance, basic sustainable economic development, and Afghan security forces capable enough that we can draw down our forces.’’
*********************
Kerry said the United States could not quickly withdraw its 65,000 or so troops and focus only on a narrow counterterrorism mission, as Vice President Joe Biden appears to be advocating.
Instead, Kerry appeared to be arguing for a middle path: keeping enough US troops in Afghanistan to train enough Afghan security forces to keep control over enough of the country to allow for a US exit. Some US officials expect President Obama to choose a similar course.
So KERRY BECAME PRESIDENT five years after losing to Bush?
“Absent any truly good choices, we must ask a simple question: What is doable?’’ Kerry said. “We don’t have to control every hamlet and village.’’
Then ABOUT FACE! FORWARD, MARCH!
The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said he would support a moderate increase in US troops, but only if effective Afghan forces were there to hold the areas that have been cleared of insurgents. Kerry spoke on one of the deadliest days for US troops in Afghanistan, as 14 Americans perished in separate helicopter crashes. His speech also coincided with Obama’s sixth war council session....
Related: Obama's Litmus Test
Some of Kerry’s most pointed remarks came in response to questions about Karzai, whose government was once celebrated for bringing new hope, but is now viewed by many as deeply corrupt. One questioner asked whether Karzai could be a trusted US partner given that his own brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, is widely believed to be involved in narco-trafficking. Kerry said he had asked US intelligence agencies for hard evidence regarding Karzai’s brother, but that “nobody has given me anything.’’
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!
So HE is WORKING FOR THEM, huh?
In his speech and his remarks afterward, Kerry offered a passionate defense of Karzai, recounting his family history of fighting the Taliban and noting that accusations of election fraud and irregularities also happen in the United States.
Yeah, including YOUR OWN ELECTION, you wimp!
Not that it would have mattered; you can see the CHANGE we are getting.
“This man, I believe, is a patriot,’’ Kerry said.
Translation: STAND DOWN when you LOSE to Abdullah!
Kerry said he had confidence that Karzai would overhaul his government, and that the United States should require such improvements from the winner of the runoff election before committing to a significant increase in support. Kerry estimated that there are only “a few thousand hard-core, ideological, irreconcilable Taliban,’’ representing about 30 percent of the total.
Wrong John!
So YOU DON'T EVEN READ the INTELLIGENCE REPORTS, do you?
He said US assistance could be used more effectively to neutralize the remainder of those fighters. “Many can be lured away by the right combination of money, diplomacy, reintegration into society, and smart outreach to Pashtun tribal leaders, including those who currently back the Taliban,’’ he said.
Why not just TALK TO THEM!?
Who knows? You may find they are QUITE CHARMING when given a chance!
--more--"
