Pelosi on Afghanistan: 'very impressed for the first time with the intention to leave'

[kpete]

Source: Daily Kos

WED MAY 04, 2011 AT 06:40 PM PDT

Pelosi on Afghanistan: 'very impressed for the first time with the intention to leave'
byChris BowersforDaily Kos

On a conference call today with progressive new media types, Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi indicated that, for the first time, she believes the United States military is prepared to withdraw from Afghanistan.

During the call, I asked Leader Pelosi "do you think the killing of Osama bin Laden will increase support in the House of Representatives for a more rapid withdrawal from Afghanistan?" While she said that she did not know the answer to that question at this time, she did relay some important information about a recent trip she took to Afghanistan.

On that trip, which took place over St. Patrick's Day weekend, Pelosi said "I was very impressed for the first time with the intention to leave." She indicated that in all conversations she had during her trip, from the highest echelons of the military and diplomatic corps to the rank and file soldiers in the field, "everything was about preparations to leave."

Pelosi added that "we will be on the President's timetable to begin the withdrawal of troops and go from there." This latter remark echoes what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters earlier in the week, that the killing of bin Laden will not result in an accelerated withdrawal timeline.




Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/04/973089/-Pelosi-on-Afghanistan:-very-impressed-for-the-first-time-with-the-intentiontoleave