Sen. Bernie Sanders statement on Afghanistan

[IndianaGreen]

Senator Sanders’ Statement on Afghanistan

December 1, 2009

WASHINGTON, December 1 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made the following statement after President Obama announced tonight that he will send 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

“I agree with President Obama that it would be a setback for democracy and stability if the Taliban regained power, but I have serious concerns.

“First, why are American taxpayers and our brave soldiers bearing almost all the burden in what should be an international effort? Where are Europe, Russia, China and the rest of the world? Second, why in the midst of a severe recession – with 17 percent of our people unemployed or under-employed and one out of four kids on food stamps – are we going to be spending $100 billion a year on Afghanistan when we have so many pressing needs at home? Third, I worry about how we can forge a dependable partnership with an Afghan government that is ineffective and corrupt.

“My nightmare is that we may get caught in a quagmire situation from which there will be no successful exit.”

http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=ac1314a9-69e4-4f9e-bb4e-a77a86b24a42

[ProSense]

1. Good statement

“I agree with President Obama that it would be a setback for democracy and stability if the Taliban regained power, but I have serious concerns."

[Cha]

4. Yeah, good to read from someone who

isn't hysterical.

[msongs]

2. so how many Islamic governments are kicking in anything in support? hmmm nt

[IndianaGreen]

3. Saudi Arabia funds the Wahhabi schools from which Taliban fighters come

[quiet.american]

5. I respect Sen. Sanders and only ask this:

If he agrees with Pres. Obama that it would be a setback if the Taliban regained power -- how to accomplish this in a non-military way?

Serious question.

And I still respect Sen. Sanders.

[LZelig]

6. I respect Sanders too:

he is one of a very small handful in Washington with complete integrity.

To answer your serious question:

Pay them. Our troops cost a million a year; the local Afghan men make $10 a day to fight, less than $4,000 a year. Pay them 10 times that amount, and you still save over $950,000 per troop, per year, to guard the Unical pipeline and keep the Taliban in check. While you're at it you could make the poppy growers legitimate by buying the crops for pharmaceutical grade opiates, creating a regulated industry.

[quiet.american]

7. I like that answer. That is what was essentially behind the success of the Iraq surge.

(Iraq reference: The Price of the Surge, Foreign Affairs magazine)

Even though payments were made to tribal chiefs, the generals in Iraq essentially said they needed addtional troops for the relationship-building process and to secure the areas during the transition periods.

Given that there is a starting drawdown date of July 2011, it looks like a similar strategy is being employed in Afghanistan.