Romney: Afghan troop announcement "naive"

By: Sarah B. Boxer
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: Getty Images/Ethan Miller)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Continuing his offensive against President Obama's national security stances, Mitt Romney on Wednesday accused Defense Secretary Leon Panetta of being "misguided and naive" for announcing earlier that the U.S.-led NATO coalition would end its combat role in Afghanistan next year.

The Obama administration had previously promised that the United States would keep troops in Afghanistan until 2014, but Panetta told reporters traveling with him in Brussels that the shrinking of its military footprint hopefully could occur in the mid- to latter part of 2013.

Romney, at a rally in Las Vegas, said some administration actions "are calculated on a philosophy that's hard to understand and sometimes you scratch you head and say how can he be so misguided and so naive? Today his secretary of defense unleashed such a policy."

He added, "So the Taliban hears it, the Pakistanis hear it, the Afghan leaders hear it. Why in the world do you go to the people that you're fighting with and tell them the date you're pulling out your troops? It makes absolutely no sense. His naivete is putting in jeopardy the mission of the United States of America and our commitments to freedom. He is wrong. We need new leadership in Washington."

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by bantamei February 2, 2012 4:58 PM EST: Mittwit doesn't have a clue.; Reply to this comment


by Paul_I February 2, 2012 4:42 PM EST: Tell it, Mitt. Great sound bites. Adopt the cowboy diplomacy that we know what is best for other countries no matter what they think. And don't forget to honor our soldiers killed by the Afghans they were sent to train how to fight.; Reply to this comment


by mountainstates1 February 2, 2012 4:39 PM EST: Romney you and your horrible party got us into this war. I'm thankful we have a president wise enough to know when to get us out. So Mitt, SHUT UP.; Reply to this comment


by skyk801 February 2, 2012 4:14 PM EST: You have to wonder what this Parasite would do with our Military... just how many wars based on how many LIES would he be capable of creating? President Obama has shown us MORE success in the Middle East in 3 years than any Republican.. let's, using a worn line, Stay the Course!; Reply to this comment


by wrks February 2, 2012 3:17 PM EST: Afghanistan average life expectancy 45 years.
G.D.P.per capita less than Haiti, after billions in economic aid.
Land locked, inhospitable terrain.
Even Petraeus said in feb of 2009 that it was known as the graveyard of nations and implied there was a low probability of success.
The average Afghani hates us.
Get out now. The Soviets learned their lesson and so have we.; Reply to this comment


by Rafterman11 February 2, 2012 3:11 PM EST: I wouldn't take what Mitt has to say to seriously now. To get the 'con nomination, he has to appeal to the far right wing Republican base (in other words, talk ignorantly and make wildly ridiculous accusations). Once he gets the nom, I suspect you'll see the real, more moderate Mitt Romney.; Reply to this comment

by B_Erhart February 2, 2012 3:00 PM EST

"misguided and naive" That would be LISTENING to you, Mittwit.
WE HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE! There's not a nickel to replace an interstate bridge here in NE Ohio (same design as I-35 fall down).
Let's keep SQUANDERING UMPTEEN BILLIONS of dollar in perpetuity WITH
BORROWED MONEY YOU Mittwits DON"T WON"T to PAY FOR!

HOLY Chickenhawk Mitt, you need to go to Afghanistan and STAY THERE
FOREVER.

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by skyk801 February 2, 2012 4:16 PM EST: B_Erhart, it's no better regardless of where you go in the Country... it's time to spend some time and money on the good Old USA!

by PourpaixPourpaix February 2, 2012 2:43 PM EST

What's naive about it? To Obama, he may lose the election, which means the Afghan war will go on another 4 years under the Republican Guard unless he shuts it down before leaving office. Can't go back without a good reason. But it's difficult to shut down a war in 2012 with a 2014 schedule. But mid-2013, maybe not too difficult to shut down earlier if necessary. And maybe he'll shut it down early to win the election. Where's the part where Obama is naive?

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by skyk801 February 2, 2012 4:19 PM EST: PourpaixPourpaix, people who care need to make sure the President doesn't loose the election otherwise you are right the wars will NEVER stop.


by shockerpsl February 2, 2012 2:41 PM EST: I find it hard to believe that such a dick is worth millions. He must have been a scumbag in the way he made it, because it certainly wasn't on brains!; Reply to this comment


by stevex47 February 2, 2012 2:20 PM EST: Ya, the polygamist's plan to get out is much better.

Oh wait, he doesn't have one. Good plan hypocrit liar romney.; Reply to this comment