Following the terse phone conversation between President
Obama and Afghanistan President Harmid Karzai about the future of U.S security
forces in Kabul and outlying areas, Congresswoman Candice Miller has issued a
strongly worded statement calling for an immediate and complete pullout of all
U.S. troops in Afghanistan. With little hope of getting a long-term agreement
with Karzai, a frustrated Obama has instructed the Pentagon brass to prepare a
plan for full withdrawal of all troops by the end of the year
Obama and Afghanistan President Harmid Karzai about the future of U.S security
forces in Kabul and outlying areas, Congresswoman Candice Miller has issued a
strongly worded statement calling for an immediate and complete pullout of all
U.S. troops in Afghanistan. With little hope of getting a long-term agreement
with Karzai, a frustrated Obama has instructed the Pentagon brass to prepare a
plan for full withdrawal of all troops by the end of the year
Miller, a Harrison Township Republican, was once a
staunch supporter of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But the former member of
the House Armed Services Committee has now called for an abrupt end to the
Afghanistan war at least twice.
staunch supporter of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But the former member of
the House Armed Services Committee has now called for an abrupt end to the
Afghanistan war at least twice.
Here is her statement:
“After nearly 13 years of brave service and sacrifice of
the American armed forces, yesterday’s discussion between President Obama and
President Karzai reaffirmed the Afghan government’s complete
disregard and disrespect for the U.S. soldiers who have made that sacrifice.
the American armed forces, yesterday’s discussion between President Obama and
President Karzai reaffirmed the Afghan government’s complete
disregard and disrespect for the U.S. soldiers who have made that sacrifice.
“President Obama should take the security agreement
off the table and begin the responsible withdrawal our troops. Don’t
wait until the end of 2014. Our troops have completed their mission with
bravery and honor which has made our country more secure. We need to bring our
troops home and leave the job of securing Afghanistan to the Afghans.”
off the table and begin the responsible withdrawal our troops. Don’t
wait until the end of 2014. Our troops have completed their mission with
bravery and honor which has made our country more secure. We need to bring our
troops home and leave the job of securing Afghanistan to the Afghans.”
Here is how the New York Times characterized the fadingrelationship between Obama and Karzai:
“While Mr. Obama’s message was not a surprise —
administration officials had concluded weeks ago that any agreement would
probably come only after elections in April — the White House’s blunt
description of his call with Mr. Karzai underscored the depth of the
president’s frustration and the erosion of trust in the Afghan leader.
administration officials had concluded weeks ago that any agreement would
probably come only after elections in April — the White House’s blunt
description of his call with Mr. Karzai underscored the depth of the
president’s frustration and the erosion of trust in the Afghan leader.
“But the call also confirmed that the White House has
retreated from its earlier insistence that the Afghan government sign the
agreement before the elections or face the threat of a total pullout.
retreated from its earlier insistence that the Afghan government sign the
agreement before the elections or face the threat of a total pullout.
“Clearly, the president is putting pressure on Karzai
without closing the door on BSA (bilateral security agreement) just as he is preparing the ground for the
possibility that B.S.A. may not happen,” said Vali Nasr, the dean of the Johns
Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
without closing the door on BSA (bilateral security agreement) just as he is preparing the ground for the
possibility that B.S.A. may not happen,” said Vali Nasr, the dean of the Johns
Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Indeed, in the call with Mr. Karzai, Mr. Obama made clear
that he views a residual force as a way to prevent Afghanistan from becoming
once again a haven for terrorist groups.
that he views a residual force as a way to prevent Afghanistan from becoming
once again a haven for terrorist groups.
