Obama: No "rush for the exits" in Afghanistan
(CBS News) -- President Obama said Monday the United States should not stay in Afghanistan any longer than is absolutely necessary -- but added that he does not want to "rush for the exits" in the wake of a shooting rampage by a U.S. soldier who allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children.
"I think it's important for us just to make sure that we are not ... in Afghanistan longer than we need to be," Mr. Obama said in an interview with Denver CBS stationKCNC television.
In a separate interview with Pittsburgh CBS stationKDKA, Mr Obama said, "it's important for us to make sure that we get out in responsible way, so that we don't end up having to go back in...but what we don't want to do is to do it in a way that is just a rush for the exits."
Mr. Obama's comments come as U.S. officials continue to investigate what happened over the weekend in Afghanistan. A U.S. staff sergeant is accused of leaving his Belembai base near Kandahar and shooting civilians in nearby villagers as they were sleeping.
The administration and its allies say the shooting will not change the timetable for the United States and its NATO allies to hand over security control to the Afghans by the end of 2014.
The United States is expected to reduce its troop force to about 68,000 by the end of September from about 91,000 in Afghanistan now.
The attack comes on the heels of another incident that caused increased hostility toward the U.S. presence in Afghanistan -- the burning of Muslim holy books last month. That incident led to a week of riots and attacks that left 30 people dead, including six U.S. soldiers.
"Obviously what happened this weekend is absolutely heartbreaking and tragic, and I expressed directly to [Afghan] President [Hamid] Karzai how the American people feel any time innocent civilians, especially children .. are killed and for it to happen in this kind of terrible way I think we all are concerned about," Mr. Obama told KDKA.
The president stressed that removing tens of thousands of U.S. forces is logistically complicated and needs to be done "in a responsible way," using the Iraq withdrawal as model. Doing so, he said, will allow the Afghans to "protect their borders and prevent al Qaeda from coming back."
Asked if that meant he did not want to speed up the withdrawal, Mr. Obama said he is "more determined" to make sure the troops come home.
"It's been a decade, and you know, frankly, now that we've gotten [Osama] bin Laden, now that we've weakened al Qaeda, we're in a stronger position to transition than we would have been two or three years ago," Mr Obama told KDKA.
On the campaign trail, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told CBS News the United States should leave Afghanistan as quickly as is feasible.
"My feeling is that we should leave. I think as fast as we can with safety. I think the possibility of us changing Afghan culture is virtually zero," Gingrich told congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes.
Additional reporting by Chloe Arensberg, David Martin and Carrie Rabin.
Popular in Politics
- FBI director acknowledges domestic drone use 146 Comments
- Obama and Berlin: Faded echoes meet new realities
- Obama on NSA programs: Americans "not getting the complete story" 260 Comments
- Smooth, on-time Obamacare rollout no sure thing: GAO
- House Republicans pass 20-week limit on abortions 505 Comments
- GOP Sen. Murkowski backs same-sex marriage
- Obama renews push for a nuclear disarmament legacy
- Immigration reform would cut deficit, analysis shows
Obama signed the following into law:
HR 347 (1st Amendment Eradication Act)
NDAA Indefinite Detension of American Citizens
Spy Drones in U.S. air space
Executive Order 13575
Assassination of U.S. Citizens without due process
Fast & Furious, Demand Letter 3
Patriot Act
TSA
For those who seem to be proud of supporting any candidate other than Paul, make sure you know what you are really voting for:
- Romney, creator of Obam-ney care and who continuously flip-flops on every issue - where does he really stand? Supports Patriot Act, TSA, NDAA. Remember, there is a BIG difference between Pro-small/medium business, and Pro-Conglomerate Special Interest.
- Gingrich, like Obama, believes OUR Constitution should be "replaced". A moon "colony" by 2020? Supports Patriot, TSA, NDAA.
- Santorum, supports Patriot, TSA, NDAA. Votes against the Constitution. Voted to raise the debt ceiling 5 times, and listed by CREW as one of the top CORRUPT U.S. Senators, said out of his own mouth, if you want less intrusive government, "Vote for Ron Paul"
And if you haven't heard just recently, all of these candidates are now taking veteran Ron Paul's position on foreign policy! Poll after national poll, Ron Paul, based upon his solid Constitutional voting record, is the ONLY candidate who can go head to head against Obama. Contrary to misleading mainstream media reporting (owned by international interests), Ron Paul IS winning the delegates. Vote for Ron Paul 2012!
----------------
War never does.
The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they could do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.
They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between Timothy McVie and the republicans is he used explosives and they used their congressional positions.
The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) and cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.
Republicans are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. They continue to attack women's health care, planned parenthood and contraceptives.
After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again. Prevent abuse of struggling Americans and America. Just say no to voting for republicans.
---------------------------------------------------
After more than 10 years on their soil, don't you think that the people of Afghanistan are sick of our presence already?? I really think they hate us more than the Taliban. The Taliban, at least, is their own people and it's their business. If they want to overthrow the Taliban then let them. Our only interest was whether the Taliban had any affiliation with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
There? The individual would have been tortured, beaten and then beheaded... all without a trial... and they would continue to justify killing MORE innocent Americans, all in the sake of revenge (which the Koran demands).
To compare, it would be like us hunting down all the families of the Terrorists from 9/11 (talking kids and grandparents, too). Imagine us taking them to Time Square and opening fire on them... and then celebrating by dancing on their bodies...
That would be the nearest comparison to the "what if" you pose.