McCain, Graham: Afghanistan Drawdown Is 'Unnecessary Risk'

[Dos Equis]

Obama not listening to his advisors?  Shocking.   

McCain, Graham: Afghanistan Drawdown Is 'Unnecessary Risk'
Published July 03, 2011
FoxNews.com

WASHINGTON -- Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, visiting U.S. troops in Afghanistan over the Fourth of July weekend, used the term "unnecessary risk" on Sunday to describe President Obama's decision to remove 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

The lawmakers said the president ignored the recommendations of military commanders and steered his own course on fighting the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters there.

"What I have seen and heard here, both from Afghans as well as a number of Americans, is that it is an unnecessary risk. It's not recommended by any of the military," McCain, R-Ariz., told CNN. "And I hope that it will work out, but it certainly deprives us of the necessary troops that we need for the second fighting season."

"The commander in chief can make any decision he would like. He should listen to his military commanders," said Graham, R-S.C., who appeared on "Fox News Sunday" with Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., who is also traveling in Afghanistan.

"All the generals say they will stand by this decision. That's their job," Graham said, adding that it has "changed the momentum" and left Afghans wondering what the U.S. is thinking. "I just hope and pray that this works out well."

Last month, Obama ordered a troop reduction of 10,000 by the end of the year and another 23,000 by September 2012.

Lt. Gen. John R. Allen, the Marine general nominated to be the next top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is expected to carry out the president's order to begin withdrawing U.S. troops. But in testimony to the Senate last week, he admitted that the drawdown schedule is more aggressive than the military had anticipated. He cautioned that successfully winding down the war will require new progress on a wide front, including more help from allies and less Afghan corruption.

In 2009, Obama agreed to send 30,000 additional troops to the region to pacify areas in the Taliban's southern heartland and other dangerous areas. U.S. military officials have predicted more tough fighting through the summer as the Taliban try to regain territory they have lost.

McCain said the troops have had "enormous success over the past year" on the battlefield, particularly taking out a lot of mid-level Taliban in Afghanistan. However, he said there is no indication the Taliban will reach political reconciliation with Afghanistan's government.

"There has been no signs whatsoever. When the Taliban are ready to talk peace, it will be when they are convinced that they can't achieve their goals on the battlefield," he said.

McCain added that unless the Pakistanis eliminate the links between its intelligence services and the Haqqani Network, which is linked to the Taliban, the Taliban will remain a problem.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/03/mccain-afghanistan-draw-down-is-unnecessary-risk/?test=latestnews

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

Obama not listening to his advisors?  Shocking.   

McCain, Graham: Afghanistan Drawdown Is 'Unnecessary Risk'
Published July 03, 2011
FoxNews.com

WASHINGTON -- Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, visiting U.S. troops in Afghanistan over the Fourth of July weekend, used the term "unnecessary risk" on Sunday to describe President Obama's decision to remove 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

The lawmakers said the president ignored the recommendations of military commanders and steered his own course on fighting the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters there.

"What I have seen and heard here, both from Afghans as well as a number of Americans, is that it is an unnecessary risk. It's not recommended by any of the military," McCain, R-Ariz., told CNN. "And I hope that it will work out, but it certainly deprives us of the necessary troops that we need for the second fighting season."

"The commander in chief can make any decision he would like. He should listen to his military commanders," said Graham, R-S.C., who appeared on "Fox News Sunday" with Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., who is also traveling in Afghanistan.

"All the generals say they will stand by this decision. That's their job," Graham said, adding that it has "changed the momentum" and left Afghans wondering what the U.S. is thinking. "I just hope and pray that this works out well."

Last month, Obama ordered a troop reduction of 10,000 by the end of the year and another 23,000 by September 2012.

Lt. Gen. John R. Allen, the Marine general nominated to be the next top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is expected to carry out the president's order to begin withdrawing U.S. troops. But in testimony to the Senate last week, he admitted that the drawdown schedule is more aggressive than the military had anticipated. He cautioned that successfully winding down the war will require new progress on a wide front, including more help from allies and less Afghan corruption.

In 2009, Obama agreed to send 30,000 additional troops to the region to pacify areas in the Taliban's southern heartland and other dangerous areas. U.S. military officials have predicted more tough fighting through the summer as the Taliban try to regain territory they have lost.

McCain said the troops have had "enormous success over the past year" on the battlefield, particularly taking out a lot of mid-level Taliban in Afghanistan. However, he said there is no indication the Taliban will reach political reconciliation with Afghanistan's government.

"There has been no signs whatsoever. When the Taliban are ready to talk peace, it will be when they are convinced that they can't achieve their goals on the battlefield," he said.

McCain added that unless the Pakistanis eliminate the links between its intelligence services and the Haqqani Network, which is linked to the Taliban, the Taliban will remain a problem.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/03/mccain-afghanistan-draw-down-is-unnecessary-risk/?test=latestnews

Those same military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq including Colin Powell.  But in the end, the Commander in Chief is running the show and that's the president. 

[Dos Equis]

Those same military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq including Colin Powell.  But in the end, the Commander in Chief is running the show and that's the president. 

Really?  Which military commanders? 

And even if they did, that has zero to do with Obama ignoring the advice of people who know a whole lot more about this than he does, just so he can do something that is politically expedient. 

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

Really?  Which military commanders? 

And even if they did, that has zero to do with Obama ignoring the advice of people who know a whole lot more about this than he does, just so he can do something that is politically expedient. 

Obama can do as he pleases, he was elected President and is the Commander in Chief as was Bush and every other president.  If the people don't like it then they can vote him out of office in 2012.   

The military is not in charge of this country and that would be something that you certainly would not like.  Take it from someone who served.

[Dos Equis]

Obama can do as he pleases, he was elected President and is the Commander in Chief as was Bush and every other president.  If the people don't like it then they can vote him out of office in 2012.   

The military is not in charge of this country and that would be something that you certainly would not like.  Take it from someone who served.

Which military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq?

Yes, Obama can do as he pleases, and in all likelihood, he will be booted in 2012.  But the point is he should listen to his advisers, particularly when he doesn't know squat about the military.  His decision to pull troops is solely to satisfy the anti-war part of his base, not because the mission dictates the withdrawal of a certain number of troops, by a deadline that he pulled out of his rear end.   

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

Which military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq?

Yes, Obama can do as he pleases, and in all likelihood, he will be booted in 2012.  But the point is he should listen to his advisers, particularly when he doesn't know squat about the military.  His decision to pull troops is solely to satisfy the anti-war part of his base, not because the mission dictates the withdrawal of a certain number of troops, by a deadline that he pulled out of his rear end.   

We'll lets start and end with Colin Powell, the former Chairman Joint Chief of Staff because I'm going to name off every military commander out there who say that he was crazy.


And who says he didn't listen to his advisors.  I'm quite sure that he did and from there he made his decision.  Obama will not be in office forever but if Republicans keep up with not showing any respect to the authority of the President, then they are going to cost themselves the election automatically.

[Dos Equis]

We'll lets start and end with Colin Powell, the former Chairman Joint Chief of Staff because I'm going to name off every military commander out there who say that he was crazy.


And who says he didn't listen to his advisors.  I'm quite sure that he did and from there he made his decision.  Obama will not be in office forever but if Republicans keep up with not showing any respect to the authority of the President, then they are going to cost themselves the election automatically.

I'm not asking you to name every commander.  You said this:  "Those same military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq including Colin Powell."  I don't remember the same military commanders (or any of them) telling Bush not to invade Iraq.  The only thing I recall reading was the former chair of the Joint Chiefs saying in his book that he didn't think going into Iraq was a good idea (or something like that). 

Who said he didn't listen to his advisers?  Did you read the story? 

The lawmakers said the president ignored the recommendations of military commanders and steered his own course on fighting the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters there.

"What I have seen and heard here, both from Afghans as well as a number of Americans, is that it is an unnecessary risk. It's not recommended by any of the military," McCain, R-Ariz., told CNN. "And I hope that it will work out, but it certainly deprives us of the necessary troops that we need for the second fighting season."

[Soul Crusher]

Every single thing this admn has done from day one has entailed " unnecessary risks".

[GigantorX]

I'm not asking you to name every commander.  You said this:  "Those same military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq including Colin Powell."  I don't remember the same military commanders (or any of them) telling Bush not to invade Iraq.  The only thing I recall reading was the former chair of the Joint Chiefs saying in his book that he didn't think going into Iraq was a good idea (or something like that). 

Who said he didn't listen to his advisers?  Did you read the story? 

The lawmakers said the president ignored the recommendations of military commanders and steered his own course on fighting the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters there.

"What I have seen and heard here, both from Afghans as well as a number of Americans, is that it is an unnecessary risk. It's not recommended by any of the military," McCain, R-Ariz., told CNN. "And I hope that it will work out, but it certainly deprives us of the necessary troops that we need for the second fighting season."

Oh man, things not looking good for Vince!

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

I'm not asking you to name every commander.  You said this:  "Those same military commanders told Bush not to invade Iraq including Colin Powell."  I don't remember the same military commanders (or any of them) telling Bush not to invade Iraq.  The only thing I recall reading was the former chair of the Joint Chiefs saying in his book that he didn't think going into Iraq was a good idea (or something like that).  

Who said he didn't listen to his advisers?  Did you read the story?  

The lawmakers said the president ignored the recommendations of military commanders and steered his own course on fighting the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters there.

"What I have seen and heard here, both from Afghans as well as a number of Americans, is that it is an unnecessary risk. It's not recommended by any of the military," McCain, R-Ariz., told CNN. "And I hope that it will work out, but it certainly deprives us of the necessary troops that we need for the second fighting season."

McCain is bitter over getting his ass kicked by Obama in the election and erasing any chance he has at ever becoming one.  And quite frankly if you ignore the advice of Colin Powell and General Eric Shinseki (took me awhile to find since this was 10 years ago) and lets not forget Admiral Fallon then it should tell you something.  Not only that, even in Shinseki complied, he told them numerous times about problems with gear and not having enough people and General Abizaid testified later on that he was correct.  

But again you're missing the point of this.  Its the president's decision to decide, not the military commanders

[Soul Crusher]

Yeah, and so far obamas track record sucks terribly.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Haha yeah so lets draw out one of the longest wars in history even more.  Afghanistan will never change.  We need to end things now and get out.  Fuck that place!  We might as well admit it's an occupation and it has fuck all to do with the war on terror or terrorists.  We got Bin Laden so what the fuck are we still doing over there?  Oil?  Poppy crops?  Rare earth metals? 

And McCain?  Why is that fucking loon still a standing US Senator.  He's a complete and utter joke.  My god talk abou someone failing their way to the top.  LOL......he was a pussy and an idiot in the military.  Just ask anyone that served with him. 

[Soul Crusher]

Bottom line is that even after the so called drawn down, there will be more troops in afghanistan than when obama came in to office. 


Fail. 

[GigantorX]

Haha yeah so lets draw out one of the longest wars in history even more.  Afghanistan will never change.  We need to end things now and get out.  Fuck that place!  We might as well admit it's an occupation and it has fuck all to do with the war on terror or terrorists.  We got Bin Laden so what the fuck are we still doing over there?  Oil?  Poppy crops?  Rare earth metals? 

And McCain?  Why is that fucking loon still a standing US Senator.  He's a complete and utter joke.  My god talk abou someone failing their way to the top.  LOL......he was a pussy and an idiot in the military.  Just ask anyone that served with him. 

Any proof of that? I mean, you must have talked to "anyone that served with him", right? You wouldn't be talking out of your ass, would you?

[whork25]

Bottom line is that even after the so called drawn down, there will be more troops in afghanistan than when obama came in to office. 


Fail. 

So its a fail to with draw troops but is is also a fail to leave them

[Kazan]

So its a fail to with draw troops but is is also a fail to leave them

If we have no intention of actually winning the conflict, then yes. You would think after Vietnam we would have learned that this winning the hearts and minds BS doesn't work. You want to win a war you destroy the will of the enemy to fight, plain and simple.

[Dos Equis]

McCain is bitter over getting his ass kicked by Obama in the election and erasing any chance he has at ever becoming one.  And quite frankly if you ignore the advice of Colin Powell and General Eric Shinseki (took me awhile to find since this was 10 years ago) and lets not forget Admiral Fallon then it should tell you something.  Not only that, even in Shinseki complied, he told them numerous times about problems with gear and not having enough people and General Abizaid testified later on that he was correct.  

But again you're missing the point of this.  Its the president's decision to decide, not the military commanders

General Shinseki wanted more troops.  I haven't read where he was opposed to the invasion.  Have you?  Same with Admiral Fallon.  Where did he say he was opposed to the invasion? 

I'm not missing the point.  I specifically said, "Yes, Obama can do as he pleases."  The point you're missing is whether he should make these decisions in direct conflict with advisers who know much more about this than he does, and whether he should make military decisions to try and placate some of his base.