Specter Goes Dove: Calls For Exit Strategy, No More Troops In Afghanistan

[bigtree]

from David Dayen at Firedoglake: http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/20/specter-goes-dove-calls-for-exit-strategy-no-more-troops-in-afghanistan/


Friday November 20, 2009 8:23 am

ARLEN Specter, who voted to authorize the war in Afghanistan and both wars in Iraq, spoke on a blogger conference call yesterday and said he opposed additional troops in Afghanistan.(http://washingtonindependent.com/68448/specter-opposes-adding-troops-in-afghanistan)


"On a blogger conference call this afternoon, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) announced he can’t support a potential addition of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. “We ought not to add troops in Afghanistan,” Specter said, adding that he questioned “even staying” in Afghanistan unless the administration demonstrates that continuing the war is “indispensable to our fight against al-Qaeda.” His position, he said, came as a result of extensive consultations with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the heads of the intelligence community, as well as antipathy to the government of Hamid Karzai.

I asked Specter if he wanted to see the Obama administration embrace an exit strategy for the eight-year war. “I think there ought to be an exit strategy,” Specter said, which ought to be “geared toward our expectations as to what we’re looking to accomplish.” But he demurred on seeking a timeline for winding down the war. “I would want to see the administration’s proposals, and see what people on the ground over there think,” Specter said. “It’s hard to answer that with any specificity.” He added that he endorsed the Obama administration’s style of decisionmaking, defending the “very thoughtful” president against charges of “dithering” lodged by former Vice President Cheney."


This can reasonably be seen as Specter trying to open up space on the left between him and his primary opponent Joe Sestak, the former naval officer who recently endorsed a “measured increase” in troops. However, Specter joins a growing band in Washington discontented with the trajectory of the war.


read: http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/20/specter-goes-dove-calls-for-exit-strategy-no-more-troops-in-afghanistan/

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

1. K&R

[barbtries]

2. my eyes popped out when i saw the headline

then realized: it's politics dummy! still, glad to have him say it aloud. end the WARS!!!

[bigtree]

3. I'm amazed

. . . and gratified to have his statements out there.

[abelenkpe]

4. Agreed.

I truly wish the gov would start withdrawing now. No announcement. Just withdraw. When our last serviceman has boarded the plane then announce our exit.

If corporations are still interested in pipelines they are more than welcome to pursue that without taxpayer dollars and our military personnel's lives.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. A good sign that support for the war is crumbling...at last.

The politicians are beginning to read the handwriting on the wall. Now, if they can be convinced to stop funding the useless attempt at CYA, it can be ended.

[Imajika]

6. Specter will do anything to get elected...

He will swerve as far left as he needs to go to win in the Democratic primary, then will veer as far right as has to go to win the general election.

He is not loyal to anyone or any position. The guy is a dirtbag. A pure politician with no real core values you can count on.

[MadBadger]

7. Yep, anybody who reads this as "Arlen is doing what's right!" is way off base

[Imajika]

8. Indeed...

Elected officials in general tend to be a bit slimy at times, but Specter is the ultimate sleezeball whose only goal is remaining in office no matter what it takes.

When he is with us, it is nice to have his vote, but you know when the going gets tough he will be on whatever side he thinks he has to be to win the next election. You just can never count on a guy like Arlen.

[MadBadger]

10. He admitted that he switched parties because the Repubs would vote against him in the primary

Just flat out admitted it. He didnt even try to lie and say that it was because of the party's differing values.

[Imajika]

15. Yeah...

..though in an odd way, I almost have to give him credit for the brute "in your face" honesty when he admitted that.

I mean, he was cornered and everyone knew why he was changing party's, but the way he didn't even bother to lie about it.... His "yeah, well, I can't win in the other party this election cycle so I'm joining you guys for now and you damn well better be happy to have me" approach was pretty brazen.

A pure politician that guy is. All he cares about is doing what it takes to stay in office.

[bigtree]

9. sure

. . . we can dwell on that. Or, those of us interested in ending the 'pollyandish misadventure' can use his support to politically advantage that cause.

[MadBadger]

12. Sure, you can do that, but dont do that and pat Specter on the back at the same time.

edit: not saying you are doing that.

[Imajika]

13. Sure...

until we start pulling out, something goes horribly wrong or public opinion goes back in favor of staying or adding troops for whatever reason, and then Specter "readjusts" his opinion to suit whatever the polls indicate is popular and then turns on you and sticks a dagger in your back.

He has no real core principles. You really can't count on him for anything. His primary goal is remaining in the Senate. That is it, that is all that Specter represents - staying in office.

[bigtree]

16. true

We saw that same political posturing surrounding the Iraq occupation with politically vulnerable republican legislators rhetorically distancing themselves from Bush.

I'm still happy to have his statements to use as a political wedge against his republican colleagues. Its so much better when they help.

[Sinti]

11. K&R - we need more people in Congress banging that peace drum n/t

[notadmblnd]

14. is he on his deathbed?

the only time I've ever seen people change their ways is when they're going to prison or when they know they're dying.

[bigtree]

17. political one

. . . maybe.