At least 69% of Americans think the U.S. should not be in Afghanistan, according to a recent NYT/CBS poll. The longest-serving Republican member of Congress, Florida's Bill Young, has reversed course on U.S. policy in Afghanistan, and is now calling for a troop withdrawal. As Rachel Maddow put it on Thursday's The Rachel Maddow Show, there's a "responsible debate to be had here over the longest war in American history." So why is only one presidential candidate talking about it?
National security issues featured heavily in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections and debates, when the United States was at war with both Afghanistan and Iraq. "We're still not quite as consumed by those issues but we are still in one of those wars," Maddow said, and "Romney has generally done his best to avoid the subject altogether."
The Republican candidate's silence on Afghanistan is particularly deafening this week, thanks to a military report today that gives President Obama's troop surge in Afghanistan an "F."
Since the beginning of the troop surge, which ended last week, the number of both enemy-initiated attacks and "executed IED attacks" (bombings) has increased. Those numbers did not drop to pre-surge levels after the surge's conclusion. "Afghan troops are turning around and killing American troops they're supposed to be working with," Maddow summarized, before questioning why it's not more of a campaign issue if "things after the surge are worse than before the surge."
"Does the Republican party have a competing idea? Nobody knows," said Maddow. With 40 days left until the election, "veterans have to be more than just an applause line."
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I agree we need to withdraw from Afghanistan, but I don't agree that it should be something discussed either by a wannabe President OR a sitting President. The world is watching! There are security issues to consider regarding the safety of the troops still there! President Obama may be stuck shrugging off the criticisms but to me, his willingness to NOT discuss current ongoing Military strategies in order to boost his own ratings, or refute criticism coming from Republican Governor Bill Young (who should be soundly rebuked for attempting to use the safety of remaining troops as a "Political" football), is just one more reason to continue supporting President Obama. If Republican Party members, or President "wannabe's" decide to discuss what they would do regarding Afghanistan, IF THEY were President, that's fine, after all this country is known for it's 'Freedom of Speech'. Personally I will NEVER VOTE for a Republican again, for ANY REASON, they have proven they do not respect the office which they hold or are seeking and their own words prove how unfit they are to lead anything. I don't believe they are stupid people, I just believe that they would willingly sell out all of the values that I hold dear, in order to further their own personal agendas. Politics like that are absolutely UNAMERICAN, AND STUPID!
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Why would Mitt admit to these findings, he didn't mention Afghanistan during the RNC and he surely doesn't care about it still. Obama 2012!
Nothing was mentioned about the surge by Repubs because McCain and other Repubs pushed the surge along with the generals, so for Mitt to come out against it would not play well. Rachel, lets get this election over with first. Then we can put pressure on Obama to withdraw sooner. I think he would be more inclined to do it then.
Yeah, Kathy, cause with him it is all about campaigning and politics. Not what is right for the country. Only what's right for his reelection. Obama doesn't have time to take care of business because he has to be on Letterman, the View etc. No time for work. He should have gone into the entertainment business, not politics. He just wants to be a rock star.
jes33- Can't be anymore correct than that. Thank You!
Comments #1 - #4- Should forfeit their voting rights!