Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Victories
    • House Victories
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Avoiding Oppenheimer’s Nuclear Nightmare in Our Current Reality
    • Twin Threats: Climate Change and Nuclear War
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / Afghanistan: The Long Goodbye

May 2, 2012

Afghanistan: The Long Goodbye

The President’s surprise trip to Afghanistan to sign a new security agreement with Hamid Karzai either was a brilliant stratagem to cover the withdrawal of American soldiers from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 or a declaration that America’s longest war would be extended for another decade.

Unfortunately, we will not know which direction the President — or his successor — is headed until 2014.

The speech was short on specifics.

Opponents of the war hope that the speech was the equivalent of one spouse telling the other, I love you more than ever and will care for you forever, but I am filing divorce papers in the morning.

However, war foes fear that the speech may provide cover to continue our military engagement well beyond 2014, albeit with fewer troops. The Long Goodbye.

In his speech to the country Tuesday night (U.S. time), the President declared :

“Our troops will be coming home. Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. After that, reductions will continue at a steady pace, with more of our troops coming home. And as our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014 the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country.”

Wonderful that the American troops are coming home!  Good also that the Afghans will take over their own security.  

However, some of us would prefer troops home by the end of 2012 rather than the end of 2014.

This position is now shared by a large majority of the nation, Republicans as well as Democrats and independents.  

According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, the American public backs withdrawal by 78% – 19%, including Republicans by a two-to-one margin. Americans are tired of a war that has lasted 11 years and has no military solution.  

After hundreds of billions in U.S. taxpayer money, the lives of nearly 2,000 American service members, over 15,000 wounded and countless Afghan lives, it’s clear that a continued American occupation is not in either nation’s interest.

So the speech last night and the signing of a strategic partnership is a turning point, except we don’t yet know where the turn is taking us.

This month, NATO countries will meet in Chicago to talk about what’s next for Afghanistan, and we need President Obama to press our NATO allies there and our NATO allies to press the President for an end to this disastrous war.

Posted in: Blog

Recent Posts

  • An Early Look at the 2026 Senate Elections May 9, 2025
  • Shawn Rostker: ‘Quiet diplomacy is likely happening, even if the public posture is more restrained’ May 7, 2025
  • Council: Front and Center: April 21, 2025 April 21, 2025
  • Council: Front and Center: March 22, 2025 March 22, 2025
  • STATEMENT ON TRUMP-ZELENSKYY OVAL OFFICE MEETING February 28, 2025
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2025 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy