Kerry would reject a Petraeus request for more time, troops at drawdown deadline

[ProSense]

Source: The Hill

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said Sunday that he would say no if Gen. David Petraeus wanted more time or more troops to get the job done in Afghanistan.

Speaking on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," Kerry said that President Obama's strategy with a transitional point in mind was underscoring to Afghans and the Pakistanis "that they need to begin to make this their battle."

"And the only way to get them to do that is for them not to believe you're there forever," Kerry said. "Now there is a delicate balance, obviously. But you don't need 150,000 troops on the ground, at a million dollars a troop or whatever it is, in order to be able to achieve the goals that we have."

Kerry said that next July's drawdown deadline shows that the president "is determined to begin to turn a corner," and demurred when asked what would happen if Petraeus asked for more time or troops when the 2011 deadline rolled around.



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/112033-kerry-would-reject-a-petraeus-request-for-more-time-troops-at-deadline-time

[msongs]

1. too bad he didn't say "will", thus commiting himself to that course of action nt

[Stoic]

2. Posturing before the election

There isn't one god-damned Democrat in the leadership willing to stop this war in any meaningful way. They're too afraid the Republicans will call them soft on terrorism in louder voices.

[ProSense]

4. Wait

"They're too afraid the Republicans will call them soft on terrorism "

Did you miss the run up to the 2006 election when Kerry introduced a bill and pushed the Democratic Party to set a deadline for Iraq?

You obviously don't know John Kerry.

[wisteria]

3. Very concise words from Sen. Kerry. Obviously, the Afghanistan's and Pakistanis

need to step up and begin to show they are willing to do their part.

[24601]

5. Last time I looked, some guy named Obama was Commander

In Chief.

[wisteria]

12. I am sure the Senator' comments were not meant to question the President's athority.

He was asked his opinion, and Senator Kerry has always been the first one to come out in support and defend President Obama.

[YvonneCa]

14. Agreed. It always amazes me that so many...

...people are unaware of his efforts.

[fedupinBushcountry]

15. Last time I looked

there were still 3 executive branches and Kerry is part of that and being the Chairman of the Foreign Relations committee he has every right to say what his opinion is. Would you be saying the same thing if Bush was still Pres? John Kerry has a lot of respect for Obama and vice versa.

[blm]

21. last time I looked Kerry was chair of SFRC...and Foreign policy/war decisions go thru SFRC

.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Good thing for Kerry he isn't running for re-election this fall.

I wouldn't be surprised if the packs it in when his term is up.

[ProSense]

7. He ran for the

Presidency opposing the Iraq war. I don't think the fact that it's an election year, his or anyone else's, matters much.

[YvonneCa]

9. Absolutely. I agree completely. I'm...

...watching the interview right now...and I encourage everyone to watch it. He does an excellent job of making the case for our policy.

[YvonneCa]

10. BTW, glad to see he's...

...not 'laying low.' :7

[wisteria]

11. Yeah, me too. n/t

[YvonneCa]

13. The country needs him out there...

...advocating for common sense...which we seem to lack in recent years. :7

[Arkana]

17. If he was he'd get reelected in a landslide.

Massachusetts likes Kerry, even if you and the Boston Globe don't.

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Oh, but I do like Kerry. I voted for Kerry. I would vote for him again.

But he's really stepped in it this time with the Isabel home-port debacle.

He's making it harder and harder to believe he can connect with the little guy, having a net worth of $230 mil, and a new $7 mil boat.

Voters are pissed in this state, and this kind of crap stokes the fires, warranted or not. Perception can be a dangerous thing, especially for a politician..........

Never forget that Scott Brown, a freakin' nobody from a nearly extinct party, is now one of our senators.

[Arkana]

19. Oh please. No one who matters even cares about the yacht thing

and no one will remember by the time Kerry is up for reelection. He's been reelected several times since the 80s when he came to the Senate and no one has given two shits about his money--like his former counterpart, he has represented us well.

[TheCowsCameHome]

20. Go ahead, take it for granted, but at your own risk.

I won't............

[politicasista]

22. You can always have my two Senators

Alexander and Corker. They both have large dough, but no one cares about their riches or personal lives, just as long as they stand up to the evil socialist Obama.

You can also have:

Four GOP/DLC Dem candidates (two are racist ignoramuses) who want to be our next governor.

A barrage of Teabaggers and GOP candidates for Congress and their ads screaming about "them illegals", "standing up to Obamacare," "Obama/Pelosi's Liberal Army" and VOTE CONSERVATIVE.

One candidate saying how the islamic group is a "cult." Others talking about the Constitution and fake Christian values.

Being in a state that wants to be the next Arizona with some of the entertainment shows that have left for other cities/states.


You should be glad you had two good Senators and one good one left. Just sayin.

[YvonneCa]

8. Here we go, folks. This is how the war is...

...ended with dignity for the effort of our troops. Thank you Senator Kerry. Thank you President Obama.

:patriot:

[Synicus Maximus]

16. To bad the decision is not up to him.