Sen. Kerry Holding Meetings on Afghanistan Endgame

[fedupinBushcountry]

BOSTON — U.S. Sen. John Kerry is turning his attention to how the United States should end the war in Afghanistan in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The Massachusetts Democrat is holding two hearings in Washington this week that he says will help articulate a policy of how the war in Afghanistan should end "in a way that makes America stronger."

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20110502sen_john_kerry_holding_hearings_on_afghanistan_endgame/srvc=home&position=recent">more

[dkf]

1. To all those who say killing Bin Laden makes no difference...here it is.

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd! You go, Senator Kerry!! nt

[politicasista]

3. Kick

:kick: :patriot:

[johnaries]

4. Kick for Kerry!

[karynnj]

5. Kerry has an op-ed in the Boston Globe today about the hearings (obviously given to them before OBL

IN TWO months, the Obama administration will announce critical choices about the next phase of its Afghanistan strategy: how to begin drawing down US forces so Afghans can assume greater responsibility for their own country. We know the transition will take time, and many believe it won’t be finished by 2014, the date President Hamid Karzai says he wants full control of his country.

Deciding the steps ahead ultimately is a decision only President Obama can make. But making the right recommendations — informed by a thorough debate — is our collective responsibility, and particularly the responsibility of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Forty years ago last month, I testified in front of the committee about a war that had to end. Today I chair that committee, and this week I’m launching another series of comprehensive hearings to examine a war the president has already decided will end. The goal is to study every question and ultimately articulate a policy of how that war should end in a way that makes America stronger.

<skip>
The hearings will challenge any lingering assumption that the conflict will have a quick and decisive end. The truth is that there is no purely military victory possible in Afghanistan, despite the skill and sacrifice of our troops. What we face is a political resolution that could deteriorate into civil war unless we accept some basic truths and adjust our tactics accordingly.

http://articles.boston.com/2011-05-01/bostonglobe/29493737_1_afghan-police-afghanistan-strategy-president-hamid-karzai

These hearings, the first one tomorrow at 10 am, will be fascinating. The last paragraph I quoted is the last paragraph in the op-ed. That and the reference to his own history and his description of Obama's position suggest to me that the hearings will support the drawn down. I wonder what the shift from Gates to Panetta might mean - if anything - to the likelihood of real draw down in the number of troops.

[Kdillard]

6. Love Kerry. :)