FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President said in last week's speech that he will send 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan - but also set July 2011 as a target for starting to withdraw forces.
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But you'd never know it listening to some of his top assistants over the weekend.
A lot of people didn't like that the president set a timeline for withdrawal. Republicans suggested setting a withdrawal date 18 months out would allow the Taliban and other enemies to just wait us out. Also - Afghan and Pakistani officials are worried the U.S. will leave too quickly.
So here's what we got over the weekend:
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: quote "we are not talking about an exit strategy and a drop-dead deadline".
- Defense Secretary Robert Gates: "there isn't a deadline"... and only a "handful" or "small number" of troops might start withdrawing in July 2011... conditions permitting
- National Security Adviser General James Jones says the July 2011 withdrawal date is quote "not a cliff, it's a ramp" for the beginning of turning over to Afghan Forces... Jones adds the U.S. would be in the region "for a long time"
- And head of U.S. Central Command, General David Petraeus - says the president's strategy "doesn't trigger a rush to the exits"
That should clear things up.
Meanwhile - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is asking for patience... saying that his country's military might not be ready in 18 months to take over responsibility.
Here’s my question to you: President Obama said the U.S. would begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. Do you believe him?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Kris from Ohio writes:
Absolutely not. President Obama merely threw in the talk of a withdrawal date to appease some of his own party, then the administration immediately started hedging on the date. It reminded me of when a child tells a whopper and then starts trying to move closer to the truth without admitting to the lie (which at my house got worse punishment).
A Vet from Michigan writes:
Yes. Hasn't the U.S. been withdrawing troops from Europe since 1945, from Japan since 1946 and from Korea since 1953? The only place we've withdrawn troops from in my memory is Vietnam.
Paul from Plainville, New York writes:
Jack, I think President Obama intends to do what he said, to begin withdrawing troops in 2011. I also think he was wisely vague, and will make his decisions based on the unfolding situation on the ground, as any wise leader would do.
Rory from Vancouver writes:
Well, Jack, if you look at the map of Afghanistan and the surrounding countries, it appears that Obama is positioning the troops so that they surround Iran, some in Iraq and some in Afghanistan, they now have 18 months to prepare for a new war, just a thought.
Ed writes:
Jack, Our president has zero executive experience, zero military experience and is a very confused dude. Everything he says has multiple meanings… It's not that he is lying to us, Jack. He simply has no idea what he is doing so how can senior officials respond with any accuracy.
Cliff from Rego Park, New York writes:
Jack, After hearing that 90% of the Afghan troops are illiterate and unable to handle tasks such as reading a map, the only way we'll be out by 2011 is if in place of American troops, we send in American teachers. All we have to do is rename the initiative: leave no Afghan soldier behind.