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 ...
John Kerry...he served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, didn’t he?
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