What does Romney’s tough talk on Afghanistan mean?
In a recent debate in Florida, Mitt Romney was asked how he plans to end the lengthy war in Afghanistan, given that he has rejected the idea of trying to negotiate with the Taliban.
“By beating them,” he answered.
It was a strong, manly answer, short and to the point. And yes, beating them sounds like quite an appealing option.
On the other hand, we’ve been at it for more than a decade now, through a good part of three presidential terms, and have lost more than 1,800 American lives in the process. And we don’t seem to be much closer to “beating them” than we were when we began. While we’ve succeeded in weakening the movement, Taliban leadership has retreated to havens in Pakistan, where we continue to strike at them when possible via drones and missiles. Short of an invasion of Pakistan, “beating them” seems a very tall order. If Romney has specific ideas on how that might be accomplished, I have not seen them.
In fact, two of Romney’s own foreign-policy advisers, Mitchell Reiss and James Shinn, have publicly endorsed negotiations. As Shinn writes with co-author James Dobbins in “Afghan Peace Talks: A Primer”, the bottom-line goal of U.S. policy must be to prevent a return of al Qaeda to Afghanistan. He and Dobbins write:
“The United States can prevent this indefinitely as long as it is willing to commit significant military and economic resources to a counterinsurgency effort. It cannot eliminate the threat, however, as long as the Afghan insurgents enjoy sanctuary in and support from Pakistan. The United States could also achieve its objective if the Taliban could be persuaded to cut ties with al Qaeda and end its insurgency in exchange for some role in Afghan governance short of total control.
Peace negotiations would obviously be desirable if they could succeed in achieving this objective, but they are also worth pursuing even if they fail, as the risks associated with entering such a process may be greater for the insurgents than for the Afghan government and its allies.”
There’s a lot of hard truth packed in those two paragraphs. As Shinn and Dobbins write, we can keep the Taliban at bay as long as the United States “is willing to commit significant military and economic resources to a counterinsurgency effort.” But we aren’t willing to do so forever, and we know it. Public opinion in this country has turned sharply against an open-ended continuation of the war, and the Afghanis are growing tired of our presence as well.
In fact, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has from time to time denounced NATO forces as occupiers, claiming at one point that “It is just for their national interest that they put our lives under their feet and dishonor the people.”
In light of that reality, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta this week announced plans to end active U.S. involvement in combat in Afghanistan by the end of 2013. U.S. forces after that point would serve to train and assist Afghan government forces, including providing air cover, air transport and logistics support. But the brunt of the fighting would be done by the Afghans themselves.
Yesterday, Romney cast scorn on that approach, describing Panetta as “misguided and naive.”
“He announced that so the Taliban hears it, the Pakistanis hear it, the Afghan leaders hear it,” Romney said. “Why in the world do you go to the people that you’re fighting with and tell them the day you’re pulling out your troops? It makes absolutely no sense. [Obama’s] naivete is putting in jeopardy the mission of the United States of America and our commitments to freedom. He is wrong. We need new leadership in Washington.”
With those seemingly passionate comments, Romney repeats a refrain against announcing timelines that became familiar during the Iraq years. But again, it’s a curious stance. Because you see, Romney himself has publicly endorsed a deadline of 2014 for the withdrawal of almost all NATO military forces, including Americans, from Afghanistan. To borrow his language, Romney announced that support “so the Taliban hears it, the Pakistanis hear it, the Afghan leaders hear it.”
So I’m not sure exactly what his argument is, other than to make meaningless noise on the campaign trail and try to pump himself up as a strong-willed military leader.
If we are going to withdraw almost completely by 2014, leaving behind perhaps a group of advisers, trainers and intelligence specialists, it seems reasonable and rational that you would give the Afghan security forces a year to find their footing before handing them full responsibility.
But hey, if Romney has a plan for how to “beat the Taliban” and yet be out of Afghanistan by 2014, and to do so without giving Afghan security forces a transition period in which they take the lead role with strong U.S. backing, the American people would like to hear it.
Otherwise, his rhetoric comes across as macho blather, and I believe that rather recent experience has soured the American people on that for a while.
– Jay Bookman
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656 comments Add your comment
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:08 pm
md: Good for you Adam…….counselor, judge and jury……….the reality is, you have no clue why they did it unless you were in the inner circle…….were you?
People in the inner circle have spoken out about this indicating as such. And I am sure ALL of them lied about it, just like ALL the people who accused Herman Cain. It’s just a liberal media lie or something
Seriously if you want to know, read up on it. That would be a CHOICE btw. The other choice is to sit there and NOT read up on it, ASSUMING your position is correct.
md
February 2nd, 2012
4:09 pm
“Has anyone made a case for staying in Afg in a combat role past 2013 or 2014?”
Depends on one’s definition of “combat”…..I’ve never been in favor of “boots on the ground with hands tied behind their back” forces……I have no problem flying drones from Nevada………
Want to ramp up manufacturing here in the States? Mass drone production……….
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm
Paul
On a serious note on Afg, I’ll remind you of “Love from Above”.
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
Joe,
You know I thought someone would make a snarky comment about that. You were one of the three I thought off. Actually jeans are one type of pants.
I was merely trying to point out that some people might be contributing to SGK and not even realize it.
Jefferson
February 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
If the US gov’t was a waiter and Mitt’s taxes were not even 15%, he would get a bugger in his filet.
md
February 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
And the other choice Adam, would be to try the case in the Court of Public Opinion……which seems to be your choice.
I’ll defer judgement until further evidence surfaces……THAT is my choice.
barking frog
February 2nd, 2012
4:12 pm
Paul, Brosephus, I didn’t know a Rosetta stone was required for
english..unless you are a furriner…
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:12 pm
Congressional Republicans criticized the Federal Reserve on Thursday for working to reduce unemployment and revive the housing market rather than maintaining a single-minded focus on inflation.
The Fed’s chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, was sharply questioned by members of a House committee about the Fed’s announcement last week that it plans to hold short-term interest rates near zero until late 2014, a measure that the Fed described as necessary to support a faster pace of economic recovery.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/business/economy/fed-chief-focuses-anew-on-us-debt.html?_r=1&hp
In other words, you’d better not keep trying to help the economy, Bernanke!
day-tripper
February 2nd, 2012
4:12 pm
Just tip-toed thru the comments. Whoever redneck convert is rules the day. The rest of ya’ll should get a job and quit pissing your day away.
barking frog
February 2nd, 2012
4:13 pm
day-tripper, :finger:
Boris Badnoff
February 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
Bet ya never heard of Hot Ice
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/01/glacier-thief-arrested-ice-cubes
The way to win in Afghanistan is to tell them to put down their weapons and start singing: Give Me That Old Time Religion or we are going to jam all of their internet and satellite connections and the only thing they’ll be able to get is Bookman’s Blog and Wayne Newton concerts.
Erwin's cat
February 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
Adam – “…That does not mean I can’t legitimately call out Komen for doing it for POLITICAL and RELIGIOUS reasons…”
So you’re outraged that their motivation was political and religious reasons…??
Are you equally as outraged when someone is motivated by political and religious reasons to make a donation or contribution to an organization you don’t support?
JKL2
February 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Welcome- What a day it is when the conservatives are touting Hillary Clinton as a worthy replacement. Her role in the conservative imagination has done a 180 in just under a decade
No, I haven’t changed my opinion of her. I feel sorry for the New Yorkers who are gullible enough to elect a complete outsider who would move in to their area just because she knows any Democrat could get elected there.
What Hillary does possess is leadership. Our country really needs a leader right now and obama isn’t it. He’s always been a “behind the scenes” guy and his total lack of leadership experience and unwillingness to change is really hurting us.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Steve — “You know I thought someone would make a snarky comment about that. You were one of the three I thought off.”
One smartazz comment about a wife deserves another.
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
frog
There’s quite a few different dialects of English, some of which a Rosetta Stone might not even be enough to help with.
Paul
February 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
Thanks, Brosephus. Knew I could count on you!
barking frog
This particular Rosetta Stone translates politician-speak into ‘what the heck did he just say?” English.
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
day-tripper, :finger:
If only that emoticon was supported here…
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
Erwin: Did you even read the rest? If Salvation Army decided they would STOP helping someone because they were not Christian or not Republican, you bet I’d be outraged. That’s pretty much the equivalent. Komen defunded PP because they don’t like abortion, and that goes contrary to their stated goals and their history.
barking frog
February 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
Brosephus, you’re right, i grew up with 18th century english, i think…
jake
February 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
He doesn’t say how he’ll beat them. Just make Newt president of Afghanistan; the Taliban will lay down their weapons and apply for all the new jobs at the casinos Newt will build in and around Kabul.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
Um . . OT, but WTF is this bullspit?
http://www.thegrio.com/news/bishop-eddie-long-is-crowned-king-in-gods-government.php
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
Paul
You did catch my first response, right? It ended up as the Mr. Irrelevant post on the previous page.
Midori
February 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
Bloomberg to donate $250k to Planned Parenthood
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/bloomberg-donate-250k-planned-parenthood-article-1.1016157
Stevie Ray
February 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
JAY,
Was just glossing over the CBO report…..your guy in the WH is toast. I don’t even think the race will be close. Not that I like Romney any better, but BO’s record is trash in terms of gaining/regaining any confidence…certainly from us independents. Horrific 4 year showing…at least by means of how score is kept.
His lack of a spine, high regard for the status quo, and blatant cronyism are going to be his downfall. His signature HC bill is not liked by a majority of the population…..the CBO projections now spell doom for the object of your worship….
Good news is that you have have much more material to work with re a GOP exec branch,…
Jefferson
February 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
What is hurting our country is folks with their pissy attitudes that everything bad is the gov’t fault and constantly looking for political hay to get back in power the wreck the country again. Companies control the economy blame them for the unemployment, if you want the gov’t to hire pay higher taxes. Wanna be day time politicians for the GOP are the biggest cry babies south of the North pole.
Erwin's cat
February 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Adam – “Did you even read the rest?”
what if I were politically and religiously motivated to donate to the LDS instaed of CARE…would you be outraged?
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
Stevie: Was just glossing over the CBO report…..your guy in the WH is toast. I don’t even think the race will be close.
That reads like “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN”
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:24 pm
JHM @ 4:19
All I could muster from that was…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwxFCj863gg#t=00m10s
Erwin's cat
February 2nd, 2012
4:24 pm
Adam – yes I read it all of your rant
a lot of words to say very little…It could be summed up as “I no longer support Komen”
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:24 pm
Erwin: You are not an organization with a previously stated goal and a long history of working toward that goal. Your personal contributions are of no concern to me unless we have some kind of bet.
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:26 pm
I think it’s time to go. Either you guys get why people are upset about Komen’s decision or you don’t. But don’t be so ridiculous as to dismiss it as “Oh well just don’t support them then.” I won’t, and sure they have the ability to fund or not fund whatever they choose. But that won’t stop me from calling out their BS.
Nite all.
Stevie Ray
February 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
Jefferson,
Don’t forget the fact that we now have 50% of the population getting something from government and the other 50% paying for it….None of those in DC give a flip about us…unless we contribute….
Of course, things are not that bad. I’m still trying to identify those middle class folks who are suffering so..unemployed I understand but can’t help but to think much of the “pain” of whoever these folks are is contrived. I don’t think the growing casm between haves and have nots is reason to believe all these folks have it so bad…heck, our “poor” folks have tv’s, cars……
AmVet - Just say no to the War Pigs.
February 2nd, 2012
4:28 pm
I have no problem flying drones from Nevada………
Me, three, md.
Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!
I have read virtually nothing about the particulars (and don’t trust the representations made by certain right wing bloggers! LOL!) but I really suspect that the black eye that SGK is getting – apparently just for caving into the demands of some 1950s Republican – is gonna hurt them considerably.
Fairly or not.
And time will tell…
Newt’s chances at getting his rotund fingers on the nuclear football…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
The CBO report reads what most rational people have expected. A long slow recovery no matter who is in the White House. There is and never was some 6 month turnaround.
Never tell the masses how long the recovery will really take and never ever tell them what Soylent Green is.
Stevie Ray
February 2nd, 2012
4:30 pm
ADAM,
Not since Carter did an economy look so dark…..and that’s just by CBO standards….(not very credible in long run IMO) wait until the debates and campaign attacks commence. Your pal is gonna get skewered. Worst record of results in the history of records and results (ok a bit overstated but the report is seriously damning)…
Speaking of Jimmy Carter……
AmVet - Just say no to the War Pigs.
February 2nd, 2012
4:30 pm
SR, are you waiting for the odds to get even better at Intrade before making your “sure bet”? (grin)
Paul
February 2nd, 2012
4:31 pm
Brosephus
sure did.
AmVet
I’m still waiting for a PAC commercial with Newt in one of his ‘moods’ with the voice-over of ‘do you want him getting the call at 3am? 4am? 5am? Ever?!!?
JOE Cool (I'm Voting 2x or 3x For MESSIAH OBAMA)
February 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
“Not since Carter did an economy look so dark”
SOOO, when we were losing 800k jobs a month, almost 4millon under GWB in the last 6 months, the economy looked great for you??
Do better with your talking points….think outside what Sean and Rush tell you.
Stevie Ray
February 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
AMVET,
Well…funny you mention that!
STEVE,
Yup, you are spot on….being in electorate is alot like playing musical chairs…vagaries. It’s like disregarding the Super bowl score and awarding the winner to the best dressed team with most catchy slogan…
AmVet - Just say no to the War Pigs.
February 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
Gee, Wally. That mental image of Newtie in his PJs is a bit much.
I guess the question would be, is that Callista next to him or not?
Herman's Cane
February 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
We all over at the Tea Party Xpress must insist that President Romney beat the Taliban without spending another red cent on that war. Not a penny.
Go America!
Jefferson
February 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
Opinions, speculation….
http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/02/10291640-obama-may-keep-his-job-even-if-you-lose-yours
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Big money sheets…
JKL2
February 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
Brosephus- Does that make me a criminal just because of people that can be linked to my past with whom I’ve had a great deal of interaction with?
No. My guess is you didn’t participate with their activities. You have known about at least some of them, but you didn’t necesarily approve of them either. When obama is asked about any of these people, is answer is always “who, what, I don’t know”.
-Bill Ayers: started his first campaign in his livingroom. No idea who he is.
-Tony Rezco: Sold him his house (sweatheart deal and bought the lot next door to keep it empty and give him more space). Fundraiser for him, currently in jail. No idea who he is.
Rev. Wright- married him and Michelle, in his church for 20 years. Never heard him say anything bad.
The list just keeps going. I don’t buy the BS about it being “intellectual curiosity” either. You tend to hang out with people who have common interests. obama’s friends are crooks, terrorist, and marxists/socialist. While I’m not going to point out a specific thing he does that’s “evil”, I think it’s laughable to believe he is pure as snow and none of these people have any influence on his beliefs or agenda.
Stevie Ray
February 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
JOE,
You can call me names but please don’t suggest I watch those homers…very insulting. I like the POST, WSJ, and the Economist but I don’t recall a sitting president ever having such damning (not like he could have changed it) “respected” pro forma disaster released in the year of re-election. FOX, MSNBC et al all suck…half truths at best.
353 more days
February 2nd, 2012
4:39 pm
Stevie Ray,
Haven’t you heard that the current POTUS is running on Hope and Change, rather than running on his accomplishments or lack there of.
JKL2
February 2nd, 2012
4:42 pm
Thomas- •You can write a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it’s a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to:
Attn Dept G
Bureau of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188
Does Warren Buffet know about this? Is it tax deductible?
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
4:42 pm
I don’t buy the BS about it being “intellectual curiosity” either. You tend to hang out with people who have common interests.
I don’t always hang with people who have common interests. Hell, I spend a fair amount of time here. I don’t know about Obama’s motive, but I’m always looking for different opinions and outlooks to further my knowledge and outlook on people. It also helps re-enforce my built-in bullsh*t detector, and that pays huge dividends at work. If you felt he was the same as those others, you would have no problem at identifying numerous instances of his “evil. I agree that he’s not pure as snow, especially since I don’t think anybody is like that. I don’t buy the evil stuff if you don’t have concrete evidence to prove it. I see it as nothing more than opinion masquerading as fact.
JKL2
February 2nd, 2012
5:06 pm
-Brosephus
By the way, my best friend in HS ran a pharmiceutical business too. Got in, got big, got out. Retired at the ripe old age of 23. He’s an absentee owner for a couple businesses (gamestop, walden books, radio shack) and owns several rental properties now. One of the few success stories you’ll ever hear about in the business.
Brosephus
February 2nd, 2012
5:26 pm
JKL
I hope he covered his track quite well. If I’m not mistaken, anything he’s done with money gained from activities of ill repute can be confiscated if he’s ever linked to sales of parmaceuticals. The people I knew who did that were pretty much too dumb to be able to cover their tracks very well. That’s why they ended up getting caught.
Get Real
February 2nd, 2012
5:49 pm
I was hungry and then I read all the liberal gruel on this blog….I am full now but sick to my stomach…..go figure
Your Party SUCKS........But My Party is GRRRRRREAT!!!! (formerly That Black Guy)
February 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
Talking Head
February 2nd, 2012
2:28 pm
“LOL!!!
You guys need to see Komen’s Facebook page.”
Planned Parenthood has an estimated $1 billion in assets. I doubt they will be hurting from the lack of a few million granted by Komen.
In 2010 SGK only donated around $600,000 to PP. A drop in the bucket.
JKL2
February 2nd, 2012
7:38 pm
Brosephus- I hope he covered his track quite well
It’s been 23 years since he retired. He’s just a wel respected business man now.
Jack
February 2nd, 2012
8:08 pm
Obama likely isn’t worried about Romney, tough talk or Afghanistan. He’s probably worried about what he’s going to promise the free-loaders next time around.
Your Party SUCKS........But My Party is GRRRRRREAT!!!! (formerly That Black Guy)
February 2nd, 2012
9:03 pm
Adam
February 2nd, 2012
4:01 pm
And as I also said, there is EVIDENCE that they did so for political purposes,
And yet, Adam, you present NO EVIDENCE to support your claims.
willydoit?
February 3rd, 2012
7:59 am
Beat them! It can be done by turning off the cameras and letting our guys do what they do best!!
Kill’em….kill’em all!
What the hell…Nuke’em! War would be over in a flash…a very bright flash!