Posted on 10/27/2009 1:15:45 PM PDT by kingattax
WASHINGTON -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, one of the most influential Democrats in matters of foreign affairs, said Monday he believes the manpower-intensive war strategy recommended by the U.S. commander in Afghanistan "reaches too far, too fast," and should wait until the Afghan government proves itself a more reliable partner.
Speaking days after returning from Kabul, where he brokered a deal with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to hold a runoff election next month, Sen. Kerry said that unless Mr. Karzai's government proves it can sustain gains made by American troops, the U.S. shouldn't commit tens of thousands of additional forces.
"Deploying additional troops won't result in sustainable gains if the Afghan security, civilian, and governance capacity isn't there," Sen. Kerry said in an address to the Council on Foreign Relations. "And right now, as our generals will tell you, in many places, too many places, it isn't."
Sen. Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is the latest in a series of high-profile Democrats to come out against a buildup. His comments threw into sharp relief the political difficulties President Barack Obama faces as he winds up a review of Afghan war strategy.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Why the hell do people like this get elected?
I urge caution when listening to the 2004 losing Democtratic Presidential candidate who now is out from under the thumb of the deceased senior Senator from Mass.
With all due respect /Sarcasm ON!
Kerry is a blithering idiot, who knows nothing of military tactics, other than how to parlay a papercut into a Purple Heart! He is an embarrassment, as is ANYONE that listens to this idiot./ rant off
I am trying to recall times in the past when seditious and defeatist authoritarian fools like Kerry and Hussein were running governments. The only ones I can think of off hand would be Italy just after WWI and France in the 30’s. I am sure there are other periods but these two come immediately to mind. The French comparison may be the most apt.
If the CIC doesn't want to add any more troops, then bring them home.
John Kerry was a member of a terrorist group here in the US, Vietnam Veterans Against the War. They plotted to murder 19 US pro-war Senators, blow up government buildings and kidnap our leaders. One group of them was arrested with weapons and explosives on their way to murder VP Agnew who was giving a speech.
Expect SOS Clinton to get booted under the bus for this boob.
I cannot believe she & Bill are happy with the way she is being dissed and has totally dropped off the MSM radar....power being usurped by John Kerry...(&%&%&#@#@!@$
Who saw this coming?
Must be having flashbacks to his paper cut Purple Hearts.
I wouldn’t be suprised if they have to fight their way out.
True.
Kerry wants the troops redeployed to Cambodia?
What was Kerry, a failed PT boat commander? Now he thinks he knows more about warfare and strategy than a trained professional with decades of experience. You might as well ask a buck private that did little more than peel potatoes down in Louisiana!
Is this the same John Kerry who served so valiantly in Vietnam??? /sarc
He got himself elected Senator, so he can't be stupid. The only other explanation is malice.
Can you write that kind of tripe with a straight face?
[Caution in Adding Troops]
I’ll bet Komrade Kerry would have liked to have had a few more added troops backing him up on that river in Nam maybe he wouldn’t have turned tail and ran away from that firefight.
This is Massachusetts and they are decendents of people who fled from the prevailing religions in Europe because they couldn’t fit in. Their direction prevails today. They vote in people like Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry who are not considered viable in the rest of the county. John Kerry belonged to a group that demeaned the troops coming home from Viet Nam for his own personal political gain, and is now determining what happens in the Afghan war? If there is anyone out there who is paying attention, this is not what Obama had promised us for Afghanistan during the campaign. He used all the right phrases. He said Iraq was not the right war. He said he would prosecute the Afghan war. Think about what you heard. He is and was not straight with us. Think about that when you vote next tuesday. Our troops are languishing in a foreign country waiting for a man who cannot make a decision to send troops to relieve them. Good luck to anybody who fought for us if we don’t have the guts to finish the job. This looks like the Bay of Pigs invasion all over again.
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