Coons Calls for Change in Afghan Strategy

In an op-ed in the News Journal this morning, Sen. Chris Coons, arguing that the current strategy is unsustainable, is calling for a change in our mission in Afghanistan, from occupation and nation-building to a counterterrorism approach.

Faced with the task of charting a responsible course out of Afghanistan, President Obama will soon announce whether the conclusion of America’s decade-long war there will begin with a significant withdrawal of U.S. troops or take a modest step in the direction of an eventual drawdown.

Instead of dwelling on the precise size of that withdrawal, Delawareans should listen for a strong explanation of our nation’s long-term strategy in the region. A substantial drawdown of forces — which I support — should not be the first step on a course of total disengagement from Afghanistan. Rather, it should mark the beginning of a new, more targeted counter-terrorism strategy that more wisely focuses our military and diplomatic resources on defending America’s security interests.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week, the president’s nominee for ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, said that our objective for Afghanistan was to help build “governance that is good enough to ensure that the country doesn’t degenerate back into a safe haven for al-Qaeda.”
He urged that we not walk away from Afghanistan now.

I responded by agreeing that we shouldn’t abruptly abandon Afghanistan, but pressed: How long will we stay and with how many troops? “I just don’t know the answer now,” he replied.

That is f#*king outrageous. “I just don’t know the answer now.” You know, that would be an acceptable answer from Crocker or any Ambassador to Afghanistan back in 2003. Not 2011. You know what, if Afghanistan can’t get on its own feet after 10 years, thousands of American lives and trillions…. yes, trillions of American dollars, then fuck Afghanistan. It never deserved our help and has done nothing to earn it continuously until the end of time, which is what Crocker’s answer really is.

If we have learned anything from the Bin Laden operation is that America can fight terrorism without invading and occupying countries until the end of time. We can keep a carrier group in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean and routinely carpet bomb the country if it becomes a safe haven again for Al Queda.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, the good Senator agrees with me:

“This was not an easy place for me to come to,” said Coons in an interview with The Huffington Post. “I support our troops, I support our commander in chief — it is not easy to disagree with their current strategy. There are lots of very dedicated, very determined, very capable men and women serving us in Afghanistan who really want the opportunity to prove that this current strategy can work. I just hear broad skepticism at home that another few years at 100,000 troops and more than $100 billion a year is going to change the outcome.”

Coons visited Afghanistan in February, and came away convinced that more of the U.S. focus needed to be directed toward Pakistan.

Like a growing number of his colleagues, Coons is arguing for a shift away from a counterinsurgency campaign toward a counterterrorism approach. He pointed to the killing of Osama bin Laden — accomplished by a team of a couple dozen Navy SEALs — as one example of how a large boots-on-the-ground presence is not necessarily the most successful strategy.

“Osama bin Laden ought to be a moment that makes us reevaluate our strategy,” he said. “I’m trying to be very careful to not be misunderstood to be advocating for ‘the job is done, the threat is done, we can withdraw all American forces.’ That is not the case. I don’t believe that. There are still very dangerous people affiliated with very active groups in Pakistan and to some extent, still in Afghanistan.”

“I just think we need to make sure that our investment in Afghanistan is scaled appropriately toward the threat,” Coons explained.

And I will tell you what else… I will not rebuild another country until the end of time half way across the world while we tear down our own country here at home with draconian budget cuts to everything and anything. There is no way in Hell I will accept building schools in Afghanistan while cutting education budgets at home. There is no way I will accept building hospitals over there while ending Medicare at home. No way.