SUBMITTED BY LAWRENCE RAFFERTY, GUEST BLOGGER
Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden appeared on Meet the Press and gave David Gregory an interesting answer to Gregory’s questions concerning our exit strategy in Afghanistan. The Vice President not only confirmed that the Obama Administration still plans on beginning a drawdown of troops from Afghanistan starting in July of 2011, he also stated that we will complete the departure from Afghanistan in 2014. “We’re starting it in July of 2011. And we’re gonna be totally out of there, come hell or high water, by 2014.” http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/meet-press-biden-says-2014-were-out-a Leave it Vice President Biden to answer the question with such flowery language.
Of course, there are many questions that I would have followed up with, but to stay true to my title, I came away with one important question. Vice President Biden, why will it take over 3 years to remove our troops safely from Afghanistan? I realize that Vice President Biden will never answer that question, even if someone more important than myself asks it. However, I think it is still an important question no matter who asks it. I am also concerned that his “hell and high water” comment might not make the Pentagon too happy. What happens if conditions on the ground don’t go as well as the Obama Administration hopes for? What happens if the Pentagon does not agree with the civilian decision to depart by 2014? Another question that comes to mind is if we are going to be out of Afghanistan by 2014, does that also include our unofficial actions in Pakistan?
Ok, I have to admit that I lied. I guess I really had more than just one question for the Vice President. I hope you can understand my impatience since we have been at war in Afghanistan for almost a decade. Those are just a few of the questions that I have. I have some others, but I want to see what the rest of the Turley Nation thinks are important questions for Vice President Biden to answer concerning our war in Afghanistan. I am sure that you will have a lot of questions that David Gregory didn’t ask! Have a great week!