Feinstein, Rogers agree the Taliban is stronger

cnn.com ^ | May 6, 2012 | Ashley Killough

[Free ThinkerNY]

(CNN) - The heads of the Senate and House intelligence committees said Sunday the Taliban was gaining ground, just days after President Barack Obama made a surprise trip to Afghanistan and touted the progress made in the war on terror.

“I think we'd both say that what we found is that the Taliban is stronger,” said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein on CNN’s “State of the Union,” while sitting with Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan.

Discussing her recent trip to Afghanistan, Feinstein pointed to increased attacks and the geographical spread of the Taliban’s influence. She also highlighted madrassas in Pakistan that “are fueling a new generation of fighters.”

“[Afghan President Hamid] Karzai believes that the Taliban will not come back. I'm not so sure. The Taliban has a shadow system of governors in many provinces. They've gone up north. They've gone to the east. Attacks are up,” she told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley.

Rogers, agreeing with her on the Taliban’s impact, added other reasons for what he assessed as the group’s increasing strength.

“This is a huge problem. And what we have found is maybe the policies, the announced date of withdrawal, the negotiations with the Taliban, have worked against what our endgame is here,” Rogers said.

[urbanpovertylawcenter]

We do not expect to win the War in Afghanistan nor do we plan to do so.

They live there and by default will win when we pull out as we can not be expected to stay on and on and on.

To win a war you must be willing to kill everybody and occupy the land. We will not do this and we should not.

It is morally bankrupt.

Did I mention the fact that I like poppies?

[tet68]

The taliban is stronger?
Than what Dianne?
The Obama administration, that’s obvious.

[Milagros]

Oabama was the first to legitimize them, with initiating talks.