Transcript of Dec. 2 'Twittologue' with Rep. Jason Chaffetz

The following is a transcript of the first-ever Deseret News "Twittologue" conducted Wednesday with Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. A "Twittologue" is a dialog conducted over the social-networking site twitter.com and is open to anyone who wishes to participate. In this case, Deseret News editorial page editor Jay Evensen moderated the discussion and chose the questions. The Deseret News plans to do more of these in the future with other newsmakers.

(Note: When the initials "RT" appear in the transcript, they stand for "re-tweet." In other words, the question was posed by a person, whose user name follows the RT, and then selected and re-tweeted to Chaffetz by the Deseret News. Some questions were posted prior to the event on Evensen's blog.)

Deseret News: Welcome everyone to the 1st ever 'Twittologue' with Jason Chaffetz.

Jason Chaffetz: Here we go! Fire away with the questions.

Jason Chaffetz: Raining here in DC

Deseret News: You said you think the President's approach to Afghanistan is too "down the middle." What's your strategy?

Jason Chaffetz: chaffetz.house.gov/2009/11/afghanistan-mr-president-my-recommendations.shtml

Jason Chaffetz: That is the link to my full Afghan policy.

Jason Chaffetz: Go big or go home. No cutting it down the middle.

Jason Chaffetz: But I do think we should bring our troops home. Is fighting terrorism over? NO!

Jason Chaffetz: Please read my full statement. I can't capture all of it on a bumper sticker.

Jason Chaffetz: George Will also wrote a piece I very much agree with.

Deseret News: If we bring troops home, isn't that surrendering to terrorists?

Jason Chaffetz: No! We will still need to fight terrorism, and not just in Afghanistan. We have to fight it around the world.

Jason Chaffetz: How many Al-Qaeda are in Afghanistan?

Jason Chaffetz: Less than 100....literally 100....according to General Jones, National Security Advisor.

Jason Chaffetz: And NO KNOWN Al-Qaeda bases are in Afghanistan, because of the great work done by our troops there now. Still dangerous....

Jason Chaffetz: Wish I could type faster!!

Jason Chaffetz: It is me typing not staff......