Afghanistan Weekly Reader: “I say it’s time to come home”
Jon Huntsman spoke for most Americans when he said in the recent debate,“I say it’s time to come home” from Afghanistan. Unfortunately, Huntsman is one of the few policymakers whose position lines up with public opinion. According to a new CBS poll, 53% of Americans believe the US should not be involved in Afghanistan, while only 36% say the US is doing the right thing. Despite strong public support for a drawdown, politicians from John McCain to Rick Perry are concerned that the drawdown is happening too fast.
Americans have paid for ten years of war in Afghanistan with blood and treasure. When it comes to a drawdown, they are the ones who should set the timeline. Let’s hope policymakers are paying attention and will listen.
FROM ASG
11-15-11
The GOP Candidates on the Afghanistan War: “I can’t,…. I can’t, sorry. Oops.
Afghanistan Study Group blog by Mary Kaszynski
Ninety-seven thousand (97,000) US troops are currently stationed in Afghanistan, but you might never have known that from Saturday’s debate. The Republican presidential candidates were eager to talk Iran and Pakistan, but generally fumbled their way through the few questions presented to them on Afghanistan.
ARTICLES
11-14-11
War savings and debt reduction: Take two
Washington Post by Lori Montgomery
The congressional “supercommittee” is looking to count as budget savings as much as $700 billion that the nation no longer plans to spend on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next decade, an accounting gimmick that has drawn fire from both Democrats and Republicans.
11-15-11
Bonn and beyond: Afghanistan’s uncertain future
Foreign Policy’s Afpak Channel by Javid Ahmad
In light of the difficulties and looming uncertainties ahead, it is unclear whether another Bonn conference will help Afghanistan positively shape its future. While there is no silver bullet for Afghanistan’s ills, next month’s meeting will at least provide an opportunity for the United States and NATO to lay out a functional roadmap ahead of and beyond 2014 for a successful political, security and economic transition, good governance, peace and reconciliation, and rule of law.
OPINION
11-8-11
So Long, American Imperial Dream
Mother Jones by Tom Engelhardt
It’s more or less a given that any American dreams for Afghanistan, like Britain’s and Russia’s before it, will be buried someday in the rubble of a devastated but resistant land, no matter what resources Washington choses to continue to squander on the task.”
11-11-11
Are The Costs, Years and Sacrifice Worth It In Afghanistan?
Policymic by Dario DiBattista
I think at some point we veterans need to speak up and speak out. I’m far from an activist or hyper-political person. But someone needs to keep up the dialogue of the obvious question: For Afghanistan, what are we still doing there?
