Leading senators voice doubts about Afghan war

[ProSense]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Two of the Senate's leading foreign policy experts expressed doubts Wednesday about the course of the war in Afghanistan, further complicating the Obama administration's effort to maintain support for the nearly 9-year-old conflict.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it's not clear that the administration has a solid strategy for prevailing, and the panel's ranking Republican, Richard Lugar of Indiana, decried "a lack of clarity" about U.S. war goals.

<...>

Kerry opened Wednesday's hearing with strong words of warning for the administration. He said the blood and treasure invested in Afghanistan since 2001 will be "irrelevant" in the absence of a serious strategy for building an Afghanistan that can provide for its own security.

"The problem is that the key element of this strategy is the one over which we have the least control, and that is the willingness and ability of Afghans to assume ownership of the efforts," Kerry said.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100714/ap_on_go_co/us_us_afghanistan_2

[EmeraldCityGrl]

1. So they're just figuring this out are they?

Now that they've sucked every last dime into that hell hole.

[snappyturtle]

2. It's past time for this revelation however, I'm glad some are coming around. nt

[SemperEadem]

3. aren't you all about 10 years too late for this shit?

Captains Obvious?

[rug]

4. He'll stay in until he has enough political cover to get out.

[mbperrin]

5. Mmmmm. longest war in US history, check.

Massive corporate profits, check.

What else is there to know?

[harun]

16. That's the kicker. Winning = profit. Only people who win modern wars are

weapons manufacturers and the banks that lend govt's the money to buy said munitions.

Afghanistan has needed the same thing since the Soviets left and that is help rebuilding. After WWII nations helped rebuild Germany and Japan. After the Cold War nobody stepped up to help rebuild Afghanistan. They need a rebuilding effort, not a war effort.

[mbperrin]

17. Nobody has rebuilt anything since WWII.

Military-industrial complex won, just as Eisenhower warned.

See, you can build a house and get paid for it. Once.

How many times can you blow up rocks, dirt and natives? How high can you count?

The moment economists confused profits and production, we were lost.

[defendandprotect]

6. Both these wars are cruel, evil and illegal -- and Dems refinancing since '06 . . .!!

[earcandle]

7. True dat! I wish Kucinich had been elected.

[No Elephants]

8. John Kerry: White House Afghan Strategy Unclear

Source: AP, via CBS News

John Kerry: White House Afghan Strategy Unclear
Republican Richard Lugar Also Voices "Lack of Clarity" of U.S. War Goals

AP) Two of the Senate's leading foreign policy experts expressed doubts Wednesday about the course of the war in Afghanistan, further complicating the Obama administration's effort to maintain support for the nearly 9-year-old conflict.

Special Section: Afghanistan

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it's not clear that the administration has a solid strategy for prevailing, and the panel's ranking Republican, Richard Lugar of Indiana, decried "a lack of clarity" about U.S. war goals.

Their complaints were aired at a hearing in which the administration's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, acknowledged that the way ahead remains in doubt.



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/14/politics/main6678506.shtml

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Further into the article, though, Kerry is quoted as saying this is not the time to give up.

:shrug:

[DCBob]

9. I think this is the beginning of the Dems and administration's slow backing away from this war..

I think the dicussions off camera among Democrats and the administration is how the f'ck do we get out of this without it being a complete disaster both in human terms and political terms. I suspect we will be hearing more comments like this from Dems to prep the voters for the eventual messy withdrawal.

[defendandprotect]

18. Think that may be part of the White House attack on Congress . . .Obama in/Congress out???

Interesting stuff going on re Gibbs' comments --

and Pelosi having already complained weeks ago about Obama comments

criticizing Congressional Democrats!

And I agree with her -- What's is going on ???

[Blandocyte]

10. John also mentioned that water was wet, etc. etc.

[jerseygal]

11. How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?

John Kerry on Vietnam then

This is not the time to give up - John Kerry on Afghanistan now.

What happened John?

[No Elephants]

14. Ouch. Big difference between then and now, eh?

Better question: Why ask the first man to be the first man to dies for a mistake?

It's okay Because Dummya did it first?

[Wilms]

12. Short of leaving, a "clear" Afghan strategy won't help either. n/t

[No Elephants]

13. Self Delete

[Romulox]

15. John Kerry should be ashamed of himself.