Doves say ditch the war, not just the general
By Josh Richman
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 6:12 pm in Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Obama presidency, U.S. House.
The Bay Area Congressional delegation’s two biggest doves said today that President Barack Obama’s dismissal of Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan (following the general’s and his aides’ critical remarks about the Administration in Rolling Stone) should be only the start.
“What is needed in Afghanistan is a change of policy not just a change of commanders,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-chair Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, said in a news release. “The real message of the Rolling Stone article is that the Afghan war is an unwinnable mess. It is time to start withdrawing from Afghanistan not surging deeper into a futile conflict that is already the longest war in U.S. history.”
Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, said she agreed with the President’s decision to relieve McChrystal of his command.
“The President is correct – this war is bigger than any one person. Our focus should be on our strategy to bring an end to this war,” said Lee, who you’ll recall was the lone vote in Congress against the 2001 resolution authorizing the Bush Administration’s use of force against al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
“Open-ended war in Afghanistan is not in our national security interest and continues to create enemies. We must fundamentally rethink our policy on Afghanistan and reorient our efforts to combat terrorism around the globe in a more effective and sustainable manner,” she said in a news release today. “We need to stop digging the hole and risking the lives of our brave young men and women. We need a clear exit strategy and a timeline to safely redeploy our troops from Afghanistan.”
UPDATE @ 10:50 A.M. MONDAY 6/28: A clarification – Lee issued her statement speaking for herself, not on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus she chairs.
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June 23rd, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee.
Now THERE’S a pair to draw to.
June 24th, 2010 at 1:25 am
Yes, our foremost experts on foreign policy and military affairs!
June 24th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
The Honorable Congressman Ron Paul(R-TX), and I agree with these two ladies as well. Thank you Elwood and John W for complimenting them.
June 24th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Brilliant analysis from Mmes. Woolsey and Lee. I’m sure the Taleban find much comfort in their statements. I am particularly impressed by Ms Lee’s logic that the longer the war continues, the greater the number of our enemies. Does this mean the Taleban gains in strength after each casualty we inflict? (No, we only kill innocent bystanders. Any schoolgirl knows that!) These brilliant strategic thinkers do not agree with the esteemed Dr Ron on some important points. Dr Ron has little use for foreign aid. These ladies would like the USAF to drop bundles of cash on the Third World. The cash would be available for many worthy causes if we dropped the silly habit of fighting wars.
June 25th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Re #4 RR,
“Does this mean the Taleban (sic) gains in strength after each casualty we inflict?”
In fact, some, including Gen. McChrystal, have that very fear. This ain’t army-on-army. It’s Army against shadows. Still, with the Pakistan military (you know, the ones with nukes) now maneuvering to “share power” in Afghanistan after we leave, and to do so with elements of Al Qaeda, the thought of giving up is scary. That’s why I think we need to give this thing a chance to work. After all, the surge is not even at full strength yet. So, it’s a bit premature to call it a day. As a Vietnam-era guy, I see the similarities to that mess; but there are differences too. The VC and North Vietnamese never posed an existential threat to the US. Also, the VC had more popular support than does the Taliban.