Kerry Welcomes President Obama's New Strategy for Afghanistan-Pakistan

[ProSense]

03/27/2009

Chairman Kerry Welcomes President Obama's New Strategy for Afghanistan-Pakistan

Kerry-Lugar bill to increase aid to the region

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan:

“President Obama’s new strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan is realistic and bold in a critical region where our policy needs rescuing,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry. “Many of us have long advocated more troops for training Afghan security forces and a clear mission for our forces that are risking their lives, and this new policy is a downpayment in that direction. I am particularly encouraged that the President has centered his Pakistan strategy around the legislation which Sen. Lugar and I will introduce in the coming days. It will be the keystone of a new ‘smart power’ approach to this vital nation. On the non-military side, it will authorize a tripling of U.S. aid to $1.5 billion annually for five years including funds that will build schools, roads, and clinics. On the military side, it will institute strict new accountability for security aid that has for too long been a blank check. This combined strategy will enable the U.S. and Pakistan to work together to root out Al Qaeda, quell the threat of violent radicalism, and give us a shot at building a secure future for the entire region.”

[ProSense]

1. The key part of Obama's strategy

From the transcript:

Every American unit in Afghanistan will be partnered with an Afghan unit, and we will seek additional trainers from our NATO allies to ensure that every Afghan unit has a coalition partner. We will accelerate our efforts to build an Afghan army of 134,000 and a police for the of 82,000 so that we can meet these goals by 2011.

And increases in Afghan forces may very well be needed as our plans to turn over security responsibility to the Afghans go forward. This push must be joined by a dramatic increase in our civilian effort. Afghanistan has an elected government, but it is undermined by corruption and has difficulty delivering basic services to its people.

Appears Obama is already thinking about an exit.

[politicasista]

2. Kick

:kick:

[HopeOverFear]

3. sounds good n/m

[Cha]

4. The Fifth Rec'd!

"I am particularly encouraged that the President has centered his Pakistan strategy around the legislation which Sen. Lugar and I will introduce in the coming days. It will be the keystone of a new ‘smart power’ approach to this vital nation. On the non-military side, it will authorize a tripling of U.S. aid to $1.5 billion annually for five years including funds that will build schools, roads, and clinics. On the military side, it will institute strict new accountability for security aid that has for too long been a blank check. This combined strategy will enable the U.S. and Pakistan to work together to root out Al Qaeda, quell the threat of violent radicalism, and give us a shot at building a secure future for the entire region.”

I have to pass this on to a friend of mine who is down with the Obama admin but worries about Afghanistan getting out of hand.

Thanks, PS.

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. Nice to have the adults in charge of our foreign policy again. :D n/t

[karynnj]

6. It will be interesting to see the bill

The hearing on Afghanistan earlier this this in SFRC was extremely interesting. It was Kerry's first round table - where the hope was they could delve deeper than in traditional hearings. It will be interesting to see if concerns that surfaced there led to changes from last years's bill that was never acted upon.

[MadBadger]

7. Well Duh, John Kerry's a War Monger

:sarcasm: