Rep. Harman: More U.S. Troops Not Going To Fix Afghanistan

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from Think Progress: http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/10/27/harman-more-u-s-troops-not-going-to-fix-afghanistan/


Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) gave an address at the Center for American Progress Action Fund today, calling on Congress and the Obama administration to revisit and reform key provisions of the PATRIOT Act through a full and open debate.

Afterward, Rep. Harman sat down with ThinkProgress to discuss other issues relating to U.S. national security, such as the war in Afghanistan. Harman recently made news when she told an audience at the Brookings Institution that any further troop increases in Afghanistan “wouldn’t be well received” on Capitol Hill. Asked if she could elaborate on this, Rep. Harman said “I have been focused on this issue, and I am not one who is enthusiastic about adding U.S. troops. I don’t think that is going to fix the problem.”

HARMAN: I think what’s going to fix the problem is a massive effort by us, when we have leverage, which is right now, to fix the corruption problem in the government. It’s the corruption, stupid. If we just let Karzai operate going forward with a system of cronies I think that is a guarantee that the population of Afghanistan won’t support its own government and will move increasingly to the Taliban. So, that’s against our interest. So, we ought to eliminate the corruption there and set up a system where Afghans want to fight for their own country over time.

Watch it: http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/10/27/harman-more-u-s-troops-not-going-to-fix-afghanistan/

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1. knr!~

[Don Caballero]

2. Thank you Miss Harman

A true Progressive with an untarnished tenure in Congress.

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3. you forgot the sarcasm thingy

The representative's stance is a significant shift from her past hawkish positions. That type of shift in rhetoric should be helpful in ultimately moving policy toward ending the occupation. But she'll likely not go as far and take the position that most progressives are advocating - an outright end to the occupation. She's a sure bet for some sort of muddle in the middle. Better than the all-in position she's been advocating over the years.

Remember, she's looking over her shoulder at the challenge to her seat from a more progressive candidate.