Reader comments
Rep. Jason Chaffetz wants Obama to bring troops home from Afghanistan
52 comments | Read story
Afghanistan is less country than a political boundary drawn around and through multiple tribal groups. I am not sure I completely agree with Rep. Chaffetz that there is not at least some value in nation building attempts, but it certainly is true that this will be a very difficult task in a culture where democracy has not existed for thousands of years.
As long as al-Qaida is operating in the mountainous regions of Pakistan and Iran is a potential nuclear wildcard we will have U.S. muscle power in Afghanistan in one form or another.
What is your military background Jason????
What is your experience with foreign policy???
How many briefings have you had with the CIA, NSA or the State Department???
Or is it how many hours have you watched Fox News and listened to Sean Hannity??
You are a freshman congressman without experience or knowledge but you do have a big mouth.
Maybe you should hire Max Hall to take care of your public relations. What a team that would be....
Chavetz is right...bring them home or destroy our enemy!
I think our current situation is due to so many variables that you can not place blame on a single president or administration. War NEVER goes the way we intend. As Chavez iterated, war is ugly and can effect generations of men and women, both from our country and the country the war is being played out. We need to forget our pride and do what is right! We need a thorough evaluation of the current state of affairs... of where it's best to put our troops and where we need to focus our attention...
At least Chaffetz went there to personally see what is going on.
Pulling out of Afghanistan compromises our national security and fight against terrorism. Why is Chaffetz being SOFT on terrorism?
What is your experience with foreign policy???
How many briefings have you had with the CIA, NSA or the State Department???
Or is it how many hours have you watched Fox News and listened to Sean Hannity??"
I believe in Jason Chaffetz case, the correct answer to all of these questions is, "not much (many), but more than BO."
Better luck next time on the spin game!!!
If we aren't willing to do what it takes to accomplish the mission, then let's make the changes needed. Troop levels were considered in light of the lessons learned by the Soviets in the 80's. We don't want to be percived as an occupation army like they were, we want the Afghans to solve the problem with our help.
Revisionist history doesn't help, it only obscures the picture.
Countries' borders mean VERY LITTLE in regards to tribal warfare.
The only reason Saudi Arabia has become so modernized is that the particular "tribal leadership" is so powerful that they've been able to control the economics of the country!
We SHOULD get out of Afghanistan and leave in place whatever CIA assets and/or local assets that we can so that we can keep a foothold to (hopefully)guard against atrocities via unmanned drone bombers.
As far as finding Bin Laden goes - I doubt if anyone REALLY has any clue; he could be living alive and well somewhere in the U.S. for all we know!
Afghanistan is YET ANOTHER "no win" situation!!
We're just wasting time, lives, and money!
News flash. That's exactly what Obama has been doing for months.
What were you trying to add to the conversation?
Just like Republican's want to crucify Obama for his huge spending. While they just watched a Republican president take over a yearly surpluss and turn it into deficits, with nothing but war to show for it.
What do you guys even stand for anymore? I think the correct answer to that is "Whatever the Democracts do not, at the current time."
OIL!! OIL!! OIL!!
Part of his appeal during the campaign was his acknowledgment that Republicans blew it. He doesn't have to defend what Bush or the Republican Congress did. He wasn't there and he's been very open about his concerns with their leadership.
Chaffetz wants to have his say before the President speaks, so as not to be accused of just opposing the President's stand? Yeah, right! Chaffetz must think we're idiots. Like he doesn't already know that President Obama is going to tell the people tomorrow why he's sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Chaffetz is a joke - so let's just laugh at him, and save ourselves from his absurdity.
to demand what's responsible:
Obama MUST fight-to-win
OR resign as C-in-C.
Start drafting impeachment articles Mr. Chaffetz, unless your just going for easy publicity free of liberal back-lash.
Has he studied terrorism or Islam at all besides listening to Glen Beck like the rest of Utah?
Chaffetz=Soft on Al Quaida
Chaffetz=Soft on Extremists
Chaffetz=Soft on Airport security
Now that there is a Democratic President there trying to fight terrorism, it is a waste of time and lives and money.
Chaffetz, you are nothing but a hypnotic. You are Republican in name only and do talking but get so little done.
What Chaffetz said?
Mr. President, go big or go home. Our Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines are trained to fight and WIN wars. They are the best trained and equipped fighting force in the world. But we’ve tied their hands. The American people want us to give our troops everything they need to win so they can come home. In short, give them everything they need or bring the troops home.
--
I could have told you that months ago, and Pres. Obama's generals have said just that. Obama has been sitting on his thumbs.
The question is now what will Mr Chaffetz do about this? Will he offer amendments to defund the efforts in Afghanistan? This is the Constitutional method in which Congress can exercise input in US military policy. It was done during the Clinton years with Bosnia. Will Chaffetz actually do something about this, or just talk?
I think we know the answer.
And what does he propose in its place? You cannot take an informed position on Afghanistan without discussion Pakistan. How is he proposing to deal with both regional instability and regime weakness in Pakistan? How does this affect surrounding areas such as Kashmir, seperatists and India?
Many small issues tied to one big press release about Afghanistan.
I contacted his office about monetary policy. I received a very gibberish response about 'Ron Paul' that was so disfunctional to any policy question I was shocked and dismayed. I guess if I wanted to discuss Ron Paul I would have asked his office about it. I was actually discussing monetary policy.
I have been very disappointed in the theatrics of Jason Chaffetz, though not surprised. He is a known quantity.
"Go big or go home"?
Sounds like sour grapes because the Obama Administration hasn't been dealing enough contracts out to Utah-based corporate members of the military-industrial-congressional complex ... for which local congresscritters take credit.
Antiwar dot com
I think we have all figured out the strategy Chaffetz is using.
The fight in Afghanistan is imperative for America's ongoing safety, as pulling out would effectively allow Al Quaeda relatively unfettered freedom to plan another terrorist attack on US soil, let alone the signal of complacency and defeat it would send to terrorists everywhere.
In our political fervor let's not forget the big picture, and what precipitated our involvement in Afghanistan in the first place!
Those in civilian life who claim to know what to do are for the most part simple minded fools. I wonder how many of them, with a gun pointed at them would not want to fire back first.
Most of them claim history on their side, yet fail to notice how wars have been fought throughout history. Most want peace and utopia, without doing what is necessary to obtain it. Most worry about money spent for Defense, instead of money spent for a "Great Society".
For those who claim to know what to do, then enlist, grab a gun and go do it. For those who worry about enemy rights, enlist, grab a gun and go defend them. For those who want a right to speak, enlist, grab a gun and go defend it.
You want a Country, defend it!
Let's just get the job done, and get outta there. Quit tying the soldiers hands together, let them do what will get the job done!
Vietnam Vet, so we know about political wars, and we know about GO BIG or GO HOME. I am a conservative and I want DO NOT believe in nation building either. Get the troops home. Mission accomplished.
The fact that there are so few now is evidence that what we are doing is working. To leave would nullify everything our soldiers have fought and died for over there up til now.
I am not a politician or an "expert" like many who have voiced opinion on the subject of Afghanistan.
But here's what I know from experience:
1. Many American Military personnel have worked bloody hard and sacrificed much to make Afghanistan a better place. I know I have, and I can state that many others have too.
2. Unless the Afghan central government can police and control its population, the country will be ran by the group with the most guns, explosives and coercion to leverage against the country's population.
3. Insurgents have unlimited time as a resource. By giving them a time table, they will wait us out, then simply move in.
4. U.S. Military forces, with few exceptions, are limited by ridiculous control measures, rules of engagement and upper level commanders whose decision making is limited by fear of mistakes ruining their careers, negative news exposure and political constraints.
5. Muslim extremists will not go away if we ignore them. The Taliban will control Afghanistan if we pull out.
6. An unsupportive, "knows better" public back home affects morale.
Sounds good to me, especially before Pres. Obama spoke tonight. Obama is in charge, and while I think Chaffetz was correct, Obama got elected as Pres, for now. I hope he is right. He still is not getting the military what they asked for and Obama has spend or will spend more money than both wars have cost us in a few months anyway.
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.
- Family history moments 12:02 a.m.
- Utahn savors running with torch 12:01 a.m.
- Cavs' winning streak now a dozen 11:59 p.m.
- Hundreds for 'Jazz Rowdies' 11:52 p.m.
- Sports briefs 11:50 p.m.
- Blues get tough win 11:49 p.m.
- KSL: S.L. backtracking on UPD fee 11:48 p.m.
- Evaluation ordered in murder case 11:39 p.m.
- Halestorm sues financing company 11:38 p.m.
- Fire destroys Taylorsville store 11:36 p.m.
- High school players commit to BYU
- Utah Jazz Ironmen
- 15-month-old Rachel Toone dies
- LDS veggie program helps Bolivians
- Teacher merit pay debated
- SLC's City Creek moves ahead
- Utahn's 'Caveman Diet' catching on
- MWC race shaping 'Survivor' style
- 'Faces of America' recommends LDS
- Kaman, not Boozer, on All-Star team
- Teacher merit pay debated
194 - UNLV bombs BYU into loss
186 - Countering attacks on LDS scholarship
163 - Why do they hate us? Try asking
158 - Letters: Tea Party hypocrites
119 - White House mocks Sarah Palin
101 - High school players commit to BYU
91 - Rally in opposition to benefit cuts
90 - Let's talk college hoops
78 - BYU's prime postseason position?
77
Visit the Deseret News Facebook page for this sweet Valentine! Ends Friday
To the 6:30 commentor, Considering the violence that has been directed...
Our prayers are with you. They are such beautiful girls. This makes me sad...
These cuts are on top of the fiscal year 2010 cuts. The impact isn't just 2.5%.
Yes. Anybody over 15 should not be allowed to comment. This movie was...
Any legislator that denies global warming at this stage doesn't deserve...
What straws are you talking about? Pretty solid science. I say bogus on you.
You are assuming pioneers had a higher quality of life than ancient hunter...
I was led to think the higher you sit the further you see. Tonight I could...
So terribly, terribly sad. Sincere condolences to this unfortunate family.
My absolute favorite - the Hot Chocolate-Hot Carmel Sundae!!! My oldest...


'Don't you know who I am???'