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Moran: 'He needs to get out of this war before he owns this war'

By Tony Romm - 11/13/09 09:45 AM ET

President Barack Obama "needs to get out of this war before he owns this war," one Democratic lawmaker said of the country's current mission in Afghanistan.

The White House's committment to continuing its military operations there is merely "hardening opposition to the U.S.," depleting much needed military and financial resources and lending legitimacy to a government that otherwise lacks it, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) told MSNBC last night.

Consequently, sending the 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal first requested in September would be a grave mistake, the congressman added. Rather, the United States should focus more on withdrawing military personnel from "safe cities" with sound leadership, and the White House should devote its primary attention to Pakistan, he said.

"Our staying there is actually strengthening our opposition, because we're occupying a foreign country," he told host Chris Matthews. "And, in fact, if we followed McChrystal's advice, we would be up to 100,000 troops. That's how many Russia had. Russia killed a million Afghans and they still lost the war and lost their empire."

"[W]e can't win a war that is based upon generating support for a government that is not deserving of the loyalty of its people," Moran added.

Moran's comments on Thursday illustrate the political difficulties Obama is sure to face once he makes and annnounces his decision about whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

Committing another 40,000 -- or more -- men and women to the war effort there would likely satisfy Republicans, who have accused the president of dithering and, in the process, putting under-matched troops in Afghanistan at risk.

But a troop boost is likely to alienate many congressional Democrats, who fear the war in Afghanistan could continue for an indeterminable number of years before any kind of drawdown begins.

Moran is among that group of skeptics, and he cautioned the president on Thursday not to commit more troops to the war-torn state without first envisioning some kind of finish line.

We could have won in 2002, but the Bush administration was distracted by Iraq," Moran said. "And now the Taliban are much stronger. It's not the country it was in 2002."

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/67647-moran-he-needs-to-get-out-of-this-war-before-he-owns-this-war

Comments (10)

He owned this war th minute he procrastinated making a decision. He took full responsibillity for it when he chose to ignore the recommendations of his military staff.The in-decider in chief will get many more Americans killed.BY Frank Davis on 11/13/2009 at 10:21
Congressman Moran, This President owned this war the moment he took the oath of office. Anything else you might offer as arguments contrary to this fact are mere semantics. It is your latest comment on the war that once again illustrates why those of us in N. Virginia view you as Congressman Moron.BY Mike on 11/13/2009 at 10:25
Quote:"And, in fact, if we followed McChrystal's advice, we would be up to 100,000 troops. That's how many Russia had. Russia killed a million Afghans and they still lost the war and lost their empire.""So the depth of your analysis of McChrystal's plan and tactics is to compare the troop levels to the Russian ones? You realize the Russian tactics are quite a bit different then what McChrystal has publicly discussed right.Is this Journalism?BY N on 11/13/2009 at 11:03
I thought that he was accepting ownership of the Afghan war when during his campaign Obama repeatedly said that the war in Afghnastan was the war worth fighting.He is certainly allowed to change his mind but that seems to take quite a long period of time.I saw last eve that Rachel Maddow and guest were trying to show how Obama is like Kennedy in 1961-63 trying to decide about sending troops to Vietnam…BY macronesia on 11/13/2009 at 11:05
Note to N. You ask "Is this Journalism?" The answer is yes, as the journalist is merely quoting Democratic Congressman Moran. The journalist is not making the statements in question.BY Justin on 11/13/2009 at 11:15
It is certainly easier to "Monday morning quarterback" when you are running a Presidential campaign. Afganistan will be Obama's downfall, not the economy. The geography, lack of a centralized govt, corrpution, tribal issues all lead to an "unwinnable" war - Bushe's strategy / direction was not to "win" in afghan. but merely to keep Al queda from gaining a foothold again. Obama made a strategic mistake in his campaign by emphasizing the importance of Afghan. If when the press would cover the loss of life, the setbacks, the constant change in strategy, etc like they did the Iraq war where they constantly pummeled Bush, Obama will then see his Presidency end after 1 term. When the press bacomes the press gain, it's over.BY Dan MacDougall on 11/13/2009 at 12:19
The Crap and Tirade/Whackyman and Malarky legislation is, at best, ill advised. Yes the climate is changing as it has since earth's beginnings. The climate has experienced wide fluctuations throughout earth's history. The most extreme climate changes occurred long before we humans even appeared on earth. If we are solely, or even significantly, responsible for the current cycles what caused all previous cycles?When was mother nature most productive? Where on earth do we see the most biological diversity? In both cases it was/is in the warmer environments.What has happened to global temperatures during the past decade as CO2 levels have reportedly continued to increase?Who will decide what the ideal climate is? Will we decide to focus on the creation of an artificially controlled climate to maximized the creature comforts of our leaders such as Al Gore?How will our intervention(s) into climate control affect seasonal variations? Will these affects effect world widw food production?BY JohnFLob on 11/13/2009 at 15:20
My bad. My post is off topic. I carelessly failed to notice that I was on the wrong thread.BY JohnFLob on 11/13/2009 at 15:32
Finally an antiwar Democrat. I salute Moran for his courage, I wish other members were as courageous and get us out of this perpetual war. Bring the troops back, let Afghans handle Karzai and his brother.BY masmanz on 11/14/2009 at 01:10
Corporate America wants Pipelineistan, all those who oppose this theft are their enemies. Obama was on board with this plan long before he won the nomination. The Karzai brothers remind him of his Chicago connections.BY Dick on 11/14/2009 at 18:59

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