The terrible trio of Generalissimo Senators – McCain (R-AZ), Graham (R-SC) and Lieberman (I-CT) – that are cranky about leaving “only” 3,000 U.S. troops in Iraq after the statutory deadline for full withdrawal at the end of the year are starting to beat the drums to keep troops in Afghsnitan after the 2014 deadline.
That the deadline is more than three years from now appears to be irrelevant.
When President announced in June 2011 the withdrawal of 33,000 American troops from Afghnistan by September 2011, he said that all combat troops would be withdrawn by the end of 2014.
In a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Graham did a good job of trapping Ashton Carter, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Defense, to endorse retraining American forces in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
Carter should have known better.
See the dialogue below.
At the end of the hearing, Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) attempted to rebuild Carter’s caareless position on Afghanistan to bring it in line with the Obama Administration’s.
Let us hope that Carter revises and extends his remarks.
======First the exchange between Graham and Carter:
SEN. GRAHAM: Now let's talk about Afghanistan. Does it matter how that ends?
MR. CARTER: It does.
SEN. GRAHAM: It does. I mean, it matters a lot because that's the place where they attacks of 9/11 were planned. Is that correct?
MR. CARTER: Absolutely.
SEN. GRAHAM: What would happen after all these years and all these blood and treasure and mistakes we've made if the Taliban were somehow able to come back? What would it mean to our national security interests down the road?
MR. CARTER: It would be very serious.
SEN. GRAHAM: OK. Do you believe we can prevent that?
MR. CARTER: I do.
SEN. GRAHAM: I think we have a plan to prevent it. The only thing I worry about is that we're going to be a penny wise and a pound foolish.
So I know you very well, and I know that you and Secretary Panetta are going to give us the unvarnished truth. And as we transition to Afghan control, please realize -- to the committee and those who are listening -- that how it ends does matter. The strategic partnership agreement that's being negotiated with the Afghan government -- are you familiar with the concept?
MR. CARTER: I am.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you support the idea that past 2014 -- post-2014 we would have an enduring relationship with the Afghan government and people?
MR. CARTER: Yes, I do.
SEN. GRAHAM: It is in our national security interest to have a political relationship with the government and people. Do you agree with that?
MR. CARTER: Sure.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree that it would be in our national security interest to have an economic relationship with the Afghan people?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree it's in our national security interest to have a military relationship with the Afghan government, security forces and people post-2014?
MR. CARTER: I do.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree with me that training of the Afghan army will be a need that goes past 2014?
MR. CARTER: I will.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree with me that General Caldwell was one of the unsung heroes of this war by creating a training regime that is more efficient and more productive?
MR. CARTER: Double-yes.
SEN. GRAHAM: OK. Do you agree with me that the counterterrorism component that exists today will be needed past 2014 to make sure al- Qaida and Taliban do not regenerate?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree with me that the Afghan government has virtually no air force and they will need some air capability?
MR. CARTER: Yes, and that's part of --
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree with me that the intelligence gathering capability of the United States is second to none?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
SEN. GRAHAM: And that the Afghan government and the Afghan security forces would benefit from that assistance?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree with me that we need to embed some American soldiers in the future to make sure the Afghan army develops in a mature, professional fashion?
MR. CARTER: If Afghanistan agrees to that, of course.
SEN. GRAHAM: All of this is contingent on them asking.
MR. CARTER: You bet.
SEN. GRAHAM: Do you agree with me it would be in our national security interest to leave behind a military footprint that would have American air power available to the Afghan security forces and counterterrorism units to suppress the Taliban as far as the eye could see.
MR. CARTER: I think that's desirable, but of course we haven't begun to address the issue --
SEN. GRAHAM: But if the Afghan people through their government would ask, it would be in our national security interest to say yes.
MR. CARTER: It would.
SEN. GRAHAM: Would you agree with me that if we did such a enduring -- if we had such an enduring relationship, it would be a signal to Iran that needs to be sent?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
======Levin then tried to extricate Carter from the trap into which he walked.
SEN. LEVIN: Do you support — well, how important is it to the success of the counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan that we maintain the process of transitioning responsibility of the Afghan security forces for their own security?
MR. CARTER: Very important.
SEN. LEVIN: And do you also agree it’s essential for the Afghan government to provide services for their people in order for the mission to prevent Taliban recontrol of Afghanistan to succeed?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
SEN. LEVIN: Do you agree that it’s in the security interest of the Afghans that their government end corruption?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
SEN. LEVIN: Do you agree that the reconciliation or the reintegration of lower level Taliban be continued and that it is an important part of success of the mission?
MR. CARTER: Yes.
