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McCain Proposes Additional Troops for Afghanistan
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ShareJuly 16, 2008 12:16 PM
ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: Senator Barack Obama's campaign attacked Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) for "flip-flopping" when he called for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan to deal with increasing violence and instability.
On Tuesday, McCain proposed sending at least three brigades of troops to Afghanistan. His advisers said later they should be an unspecified combination of U.S. and NATO forces.
"Thanks to the success of the surge, these forces are becoming available, and our commanders in Afghanistan must get them," McCain said in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Obama campaign attacked McCain for changing his position from opposing additional U.S. forces to agreeing with Obama's proposal to send more forces to Afghanistan. Obama said last year he would send two combat brigades -- about 10,000 troops -- to Afghanistan. McCain had said for months that no additional U.S. troops were needed in there. But he had long been open to the possibility that conditions on the ground might require additional forces, both from NATO and the U.S.
In December 2006, during a visit to Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported that McCain said he would favor sending more American troops there "if it's necessary."
"I'm sure we would be agreeable, but the focus here is more on training the Afghan National Army and the police, as opposed to the increased U.S. troop presence," McCain said at the time.
In February 2007, in a speech to the Munich Conference on Security Policy, McCain spoke of a need for NATO to beef up its military presence in Afghanistan.
"It has been a long five and a half years since the crumbling of Taliban rule," McCain said. "In the United States, at least, Afghanistan has moved off the front pages of newspapers and magazines, replaced by the dire situation in Iraq, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and North Korea’s weapons tests. But Afghanistan is anything but yesterday’s news. In fact, the stakes there have never been higher... NATO members can help ensure that we keep the Taliban on their heels by at least matching the U.S. troop increase of 3,000."
One of McCain's chief foreign affairs advisers, Randy Scheunemann, said Tuesday that a greater U.S.-NATO military presence is now necessary because of the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
July 16, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (101)
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FLIP FLOP
Posted by: bhrandon | Jul 16, 2008 1:43:26 PM
Jane: Anything we can do there we've already done. There isn't anything more we can achieve there, and the Iraqis don't even want us anymore.
How is that surrender?
Posted by: Nick B | Jul 16, 2008 1:43:29 PM
Can Obama come close to 1% of McCain's political experience?. I am not talking about community service.
Posted by: FACT | Jul 16, 2008 1:46:24 PM
These latest developments make Bush/McCain look like foreign policy amateurs. Obama has been talking about increased forces in Afghanistan for over a year. Bush/McCain are finally ready to support that policy now that it appears Afghanistan is coming apart at the seams. If Obama had been CIC during the past year, Afghanistan would probably be more under control by now. Also, the Bush administration is now ready to meet with Iran with no pre-conditions as Obama has recommended since the beginning. Obama is now taking the lead on foreign policy issues. Bush/McCain are performing a delayed reaction.
Posted by: RealityCheck | Jul 16, 2008 1:46:24 PM
I am tired of hearing about "the other guy" flip-flopping. Today it's the Obama campaign chastising Mr. McCain for changing his stance on sending troops to Afghanistan. Last week it was the McCain campaign calling out Mr. Obama for changing his stance on the troops in Iraq.
How many of you would like to have your guy stand by his first thought no matter what events took place? Personally I would prefer to have a leader who is open to changing their stance as the situation changes.
Attention candidates!!! Please stop telling me why I should not vote for the other guy and start telling me why I should vote for you!
Posted by: Clif | Jul 16, 2008 1:47:38 PM
Louise
funny how the inexperienced one keeps making all the right judgment calls so much so that even the president is following his lead
hmmmm
guess all that military experience of mccains is doing nothing for him
Posted by: bhrandon | Jul 16, 2008 1:47:51 PM
McCain..ok the "surge" worked now what's going to happen when we stop paying the sunni militants not to shot at us? 100,000 on US payroll..We're on the brink of a complete economic meltdown and this is our " we're going to win this war" policy in Iraq.
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 16, 2008 1:48:54 PM
I was at Senator McCain's town hall meeting in Albuquerque yesterday, and after an hour and a half of clear, concise, and well thought answers, I'm convinced that John McCain would make the best leader of this great country of ours. It's easy to take out a sound bite here or there in the negative, but in the big picture, he's the best man for the job.
Posted by: Mark S | Jul 16, 2008 1:49:22 PM
Very sad that people are willing to vote for the most liberal senator to run for office. If your voting for Obama your either a liberal or ignorant.
Posted by: Doug | Jul 16, 2008 1:49:29 PM
"Attention candidates!!! Please stop telling me why I should not vote for the other guy and start telling me why I should vote for you!"
If only the media would give them a chance, and not encourage these kind of smaller tempest-in-a-teapot scale 'scandals'
Posted by: Nick B | Jul 16, 2008 1:49:53 PM
Obama way ahead in flip flopping compared to McCain.
Posted by: FACT | Jul 16, 2008 1:50:38 PM
McCain's mideast foreign policy: -- 100 years in Iraq if necessary -- bomb bomb bomb Iran -- ship more cigarettes to Iran to kill them -- keep Lieberman around in case Sunni/Shia confusion comes up again -- ignore Afghanistan since that was Obama's idea -- if all else fails consult GW Bush.
Posted by: RealityCheck | Jul 16, 2008 1:50:41 PM
The economy is the number one issue and all agree it is due to the policies of the present administration. Macain scores far lower than Obama on the economy. Foreign Policy is in shambles and most americans blame the current administration. Macain is a carbon copy of the Bush philosophy and it is evident to most Americans. The war was going badly up until just a few months ago and now since things have improved, its "not going that badly"! Macain is a simple continuation of these failed/poor policies! How then is Obama running so close in the polls with Macain when by all standards he is a much better candidate? Twist and turn as we will, the answer is clear! There are a whole lot of Americans that can be led, like Lambs, to believe anything! Racism is alive and well and living in America!
Posted by: Andy | Jul 16, 2008 1:51:25 PM
Can't wait to see Obama in a real debate without the fluff questions. We see how well he did with Charlie Gibson and George Stefanopolus, those mean old right wing journalists.
Posted by: Doug | Jul 16, 2008 1:51:35 PM
Obama is a copycat of Bush.
The pentagon released details of more troops weeks ago.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 16, 2008 1:53:31 PM
Obama the fool doesn't want to ask NATO for more troops.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 16, 2008 1:53:56 PM
Bush and McCain ignored Afghanistan all the while Obama was arguing for more troops and resources. The clueless warmongers Bush/McCain kept insisting on focusing on Iraq which, by the way, had nothing to do with the attacks on 9/11. Now they have changed their tune as violence has peaked in Afghanistan and are now admitting Obama was right all along.
Posted by: RealityCheck | Jul 16, 2008 1:54:44 PM
Obama is against any air strikes where there is any possibility of any collateral damage.
Remember in the 90's when all those strikes against bin laden were called off that will be like what we get with Obama.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 16, 2008 1:55:07 PM
During primaries, Obama said he will bring home the troops on day 1 he will be in office.
Later he changed it to 16 months. I think the latest one he said, he needs to study the situation in Iraq.
Posted by: FACT | Jul 16, 2008 1:57:33 PM
micheal
so you dont know what your talking about
Posted by: bhrandon | Jul 16, 2008 1:59:09 PM
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