Gibbs: No Option to Leave Afghanistan
06 October 2009 9:23 am by Taylor Marsh
SecDef Gates has put his foot down.
Yesterday in the press briefing Robert Gibbs made another thing clear.
MR. GIBBS: No. In fact, the President was — the President was exceedingly clear that no part of the conversation on — no part of the conversation involved was leaving Afghanistan. That’s not something that has ever been entertained, despite the fact that people still get asked what happens if we leave Afghanistan. That’s not a decision that’s on the table to make. [...] … I don’t think we have the option to leave. I think that’s quite clear.
This morning, CNN was talking about a “resurgence” of the Taliban, with a clip of SecDef Robert Gates saying that because of a lack of troops the Taliban now has the momentum. Even Barbara Starr was surprised by his statement. I wonder why?
Clinton and Gates will do a special edition of Christiane Amanpour’s new show today at 3 p.m. eastern, which should be interesting. But listening to them in the CNN clip talk about the Taliban as if they can or should be vanquished seemed surreal. On this one point there are great similarities to what Lyndon Johnson tried to do in Vietnam. Thinking we’ll ever drive out the Taliban is ludicrous, because they’ll just wait us out. If that sounds familiar it should. The Taliban are part of the Afghanistan consciousness, according to most of the experts I’ve heard or read. We have to talk to them and realize we have to find some way to make them part of a solution. Strategy that includes a plan to eradicate the Taliban is simply nuts. Surely Pres. Obama knows this or someone will disabuse him of this notion.
On another front, and unfortunately for the righteous progressives pushing for a withdrawal to get out of Afghanistan, someone who may have heartfelt sentiments about it, but who isn’t the best public image has re-emerged. Cindy Sheehan is most certainly sincere, but I’m not sure she’s who you want out front.
