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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > December > 01 > Entry
Lawmakers, candidates react to Obama Afghanistan speech
Here’s what some lawmakers and candidates had to say about President Barack Obama’s speech on Afghanistan on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
U.S. Rep. Michael R. Turner, R-Centerville
“Our troops on the ground are vulnerable because they do not have the support necessary to achieve their mission… The president’s delay has caused our allies and the Afghanis to question his commitment and resolve to fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban.”
Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek
“It is good the President finally made a decision on this important issue. Now we need to move forward with a clear mission, winning strategy and get our servicemen and women home safely.”
U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio
“Our strategic plan must include all instruments of American power - humanitarian, diplomatic and military …Military force alone cannot do it all in Afghanistan, but we can help create a secure environment in which the Afghan people can work to achieve a stable government and viable economy.”
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
“While I’m encouraged that the president laid out clear goals and a responsible timeline for completion, I remain skeptical about a commitment of 30,000 of our service men and women…
“I do not want a long commitment of troops in the region and I am concerned with the dramatic costs to human life and to military families…”
U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester
“We must deny al-Qaida and the Taliban a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to plot more attacks on Americans.
“…This is a complex issue and plenty of questions must still be answered. The most fundamental is whether this plan will help us achieve success. I’m pleased that Secretary Gates, Secretary Clinton, Admiral Mullen, and General McChrystal will be providing more answers in the coming days.”
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland
“I place my trust in the commanders on the ground. While the cost of fighting is high the cost of losing Afghanistan to the extremists is far higher. .”
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana
“…I am troubled by the prescribed timelines announced by the president. Our goal is to win, not to announce to the enemy the day we are leaving. We must never forget that Afghanistan was the safe haven for terrorists that launched the 9/11 attacks on our country and we must never forget to thank our men and women in uniform for their sacrifice and service.‬”
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
“It’s time to employ more than military and mercantile strategies in Afghanistan and set a timetable to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.”
Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
“… defeating al-Qaeda does not require 30,000 additional troops be sent to Afghanistan. As those on the ground have said, stabilizing Afghanistan and preventing al-Qaida’s return requires training tens of thousands of additional Afghan forces, building a broad-based, coalition government with the legitimacy to lead and a crackdown on corruption by the Karzai government. Placing more American soldiers in harm’s way will not move us closer to achieving those goals.”
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Comments
By Really?
December 3, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
“I do not want a long commitment of troops in the region and I am concerned with the dramatic costs to human life and to military families…” If Boehner doesn’t want a long term commitment then why didn’t he speak up during the previous administration when we were there for almost 8 years? Hmmm…I wonder.
By Vic
December 2, 2009 10:23 AM | Link to this
Dear Congressmen Turner, As an Afghan/Iraq War Vet and Soldier of more than two decades; I respectfully ask you to consider me and my fellow Soldiers when you comment publically. “Our troops on the ground are vulnerable because they do not have the support necessary to achieve their mission.” Are you serious? In 2008 then Afghan Commander Gen. McKiernen asked the Bush Administration for 20,000 more troops and he was denied. For eight long years the Bush Administration took resources away from the fight in Afghanistan and prioritized them for an unnecessary war in Iraq. During my first deployment to Iraq myself and my men were lacking body armor and adequate protection for our vehicles. Then Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld told us, “You fight with the Army you have.” Did you make any public comments then about “vulnerability because they do not have the support necessary to achieve their mission”? “The president’s delay has caused our allies and the Afghanis to question his commitment and resolve to fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban.” Once again, are you serious? I was on the ground in Afghanistan in November of 2001 and I wish the Bush Administration would have “Delayed” a little to ensure they actually had a strategy. If we had one we may have gotten OBL in the mountains of Tora bora. If we would have “Delayed” before invading Iraq we may have realized what the UN inspectors on the ground were telling us about WMD not being there, or perhaps listened to the former Secretary of the Army, General Eric Shinseki, when he told Bush and crew that it would take 200k troops to secure Iraq. Congressmen, your amnesia about what “lack of support” and “delays,” truly are come from pure partisan political hackery where your only concern is to score points with your base. Lost in all this to you is the fact that this divisiveness from conservatives like you is what, “caused our allies and the Afghanis to question his commitment and resolve to fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban.” You sir, have never put on our nation’s uniform, so be careful in your professing that our Commander in Chief has compromised our troop’s safety due to lack of support while your very politically motivated charges do exactly what you accuse the president of. In the future please think of us before you speak!!!!
By jonas
December 2, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
BHO picked the Taliban pronounciation from California Gov. Arnold S. Of the politicians interviewed Fisher is the worst.He won’t get elected anyway.
By leaf droplet
December 2, 2009 6:26 AM | Link to this
My concern is the lack of forcing Pak to not allow their safe haven. They have nuks and if these were to fall into their hands, then what? The troops can not be bound by those who are not on the ground. The troops in Pak have been hanging in there with less than they should have had far too long.
By nully
December 2, 2009 6:07 AM | Link to this
if I’m the tallybon (as Barry pronounces it), I find a cave somewhere and over the next 2 years I acquire the most weapons I can. Then when the Americans leave, the country is mine! - a timeline is a grave mistake!