Speaker John Boehner cautions against sharp troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

AP Photo

House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday warned against "any precipitous withdrawal" of troops from Afghanistan ahead of President Obama's expected announcement that 30,000 "surge" troops would be coming home by the end of next year.

The nation's highest ranking Republican stressed that he would back the president's decision as long as Obama listens to military and diplomatic officials dedicated to the United States' efforts in Afghanistan.

"If the president listens to the commanders on the ground and our diplomats in the region," Bohener told reporters, "I'll be there to support him."

But Boehner cautioned against an excessively steep withdrawal of troops, citing the extensive United States investments in the region.

"I'm concerned about any precipitous withdrawal of our troops that would jeopardize the success that we've made," he said, without elaborating on what would constitute a precipitous withdrawal.

In prime-time speech to the nation, Obama is expected to say about 5,000 troops will begin coming home this summer with an additional 5,000 troops by the end of this year, sources told CBS News. And about 20,000 more troops are expected to return to the United States by the end of 2012, the sources said. That would still leave about 70,000 troops in Afghanistan -- about twice as many troops as when Obama took office in January 2009.

The Ohio lawmaker noted that "the American people are a bit weary about Afghanistan," adding "you can't blame them" because "a hundred thousand of our young men and women fighting in this desert over there."

A recent CBS News poll found that 64 percent of Americans want the number of troops of Afghanistan reduced, the highest number since CBS News first asked the question in 2009.

[RobAla]

President Obama is not pulling troops out because the Afghan government is stable and able to control threats of terrorism; nor is he following the advice of his military command. This is all about the 2012 election, and President Obama hopes this will lead to staying in the Whitehouse.

The killing of Bin Laden did not end terrorism against the people of the United States. Whether President Obama is re-elected or not; if terrorists gain control of Afghanistan again, it will jeopardize the safety of every American. If this happens, President Obama will be looked on in history as an irresponsible President who placed the safety of Americans below a political career. Time will tell.

If our troops, who are in harms way, suffer greater casualties because they don't have sufficient numbers to take of each other - this political move will prove to be a deadly one. Time will tell.

Time will tell whether President Obama is bringing about a "responsible end" or an irresponsible end. As far as Senator Manchin's statement about the possibility of the Afghan people not wanting their nation rebuilt; we did not go to war in Afghanistan because of the Afghan people wanting a rebuilt nation. We went to war because evil terrorists controlled the country of Afghanistan, and they trained and launched an attack against the people of the United States in that country. We went there to protect the people of the United States from radical extremists who killed 3,000 Americans on American soil. Manchin needs to remember why we went there.

No American enjoys seeing American service personnel killed and hurt. However, if we leave before we can be assured the Afghans can control their own country and protect Americans against more attacks, then all the troop who have been killed will have died for nothing. We will have turned this into another Viet Nam.

I hope President Obama is right. I hope the Afghan people are strong enough to handle the situation over there. I hope his desire to remain in the Whitehouse does not overshadow his desire to protect American lives. I hope this does not prove to be an irresponsible move, based on political gamesmanship rather than true leadership. Time will tell.

[hhandyman]

Boehner cant have it both ways Obama is not that foolish to follow the whim of the Republican Lead hed get blamed regardless which path he took.. between the Warmonger McCain and the Tear stained Boehner that cant stand it when people dont waffle at power but Do what they Promiced to do.. Get OUT in a reasonable period of time. The Warmongers failed to get their wish ghee. wonder if people will be smart enough to defund the war machine before they stockpile enough what ever to destroy the world faster than people are doing it anyway. Time to shut down Most of the excessive war tools companies and learn to manufatcture peace.

[not2008]

Obama doesn't follow the advice of the top U.S. commanders in Afghanistan he fires only the ones he picks and chooses to chow and chug with at TGI Fridays' in KANDAHAR.

[MarineVet64]

What was the name of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Dumya fired for testifying before Congress that 100,000 troops were not enough to pacify Iraq?????????????????????

[MarineVet64]

The Boner cries "withdraw the troops"!!!!!!!!!!
President Obama says "OK"
Boner cries "don't withdraw the troops"!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Baggers, Birthers and Buffoons light each others hair on fire and run around in circles.
Bwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaa!!!!!

[documemts]

LOL!

[documemts]

US Corporations are making billions off this war. We can't cut them off in the middle of such a win fall. It's un-American!

[nottblu]

Wasn't Obama the one who promised if he was elected he would immediately start bringing our troops home and then escalated the conflict and added another 50,000 troops in Afghanistan? What do you libs have to say about those facts?

[retm-w]

He had to clean up your village idiot bush's mess. Didn't hear you complain about bushes surge in iraq for personal reasons.

[SD92040]

Yeah, but if Bush hadn't spent all the money on tarp and that failed stimulus plan that cost 800 billion we wouldn't have this huge deficit. It's all Bushes fault. He ran the economy into a ditch. But if we all pull together like good comrades, we'll have Hope and Change. Don't listen to those stupid repugs. We need to spend our way out of this bump in the economy.

[hsinco-2009]

Boy, another lie from Boner.

If the Prez says one thing, even if it in agreement with Boner, Boner will change his position.

[Bisk1]

But Boehner cautioned against an excessively steep withdrawal of troops, citing the extensive United States investments in the region.


********************************

Typical Repug - only worried about protecting the Halliburtons and major corps investments at the detriment of our troops. Dumb Dumb Repugs !!

[meboard]

Soooooo, Weeper John of Cries-a-lot is telling commander-in-chief what to do and when to do it... No we know why Obama doesn't bother telling Congress too much.

[retm-w]

All those government contractors have been talking to him.