McCain: No Deadlines for Afghan Withdrawal

By: Ken Millstone
Topics: Afghanistan

(CBS)

Sen. John McCain praised President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan Tuesday night, but staunchly opposed any effort to set a date for withdrawing U.S. forces.

McCain, R-Ariz., said that Obama "made the right decision to have a properly resourced counterinsurgency strategy" and that the addition of 30,000 U.S. troops plus an unspecified number of new NATO troops "are sufficient to get the job done."

But McCain, speaking with "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric following Mr. Obama's speech on Afghan strategy, said repeatedly that he disagrees with what he called "an arbitrary date for withdrawal." The Vietnam veteran often used the same phrase in reference to the war in Iraq, including during his campaign against Obama for the presidency last year.

"Success is what dictates dates for withdrawal and if we don't have that success and we only set an arbitrary date, it emboldens our enemies and disspirits our friends," McCain said.

To be clear, Mr. Obama has not set a date for withdrawal from Afghanistan. In his address to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy Tuesday, he said that the addition of U.S. and international troops will "allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011." But, the president added, "just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground."

Couric pressed McCain about how Afghan President Hamid Karzai could be pressured to act and not consider the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan open-ended without some kind of established withdrawal deadline.

McCain's' reply was a bit odd. "Hamid Karzai knows very well that if U.S. troops leave he will be leaving shortly thereafter or find himself probably assassinated," McCain said, suggesting that the Afghan leader would share McCain's opposition to withdrawal deadlines.

More coverage:

Obama Speech Is First "Address to the Nation"
NATO: Obama Wants up to 10,000 Soldiers
Afghan Plan Revives Nation-Building Debate
Cheney: Obama Showing "Weakness" to Adversaries
Polling Analysis: Afghanistan 2009 Vs. Iraq 2007
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
Watch CBS News' David Martin on Obama's Plans

He went on to make a comparison to the Iraq war, where the U.S. has begun a withdrawal slated to be completed in 2011.

"The Maliki government in Iraq was incredibly weak – in fact, weaker than we believe the Karzai government is. Succeed and build the political, economic and social infrastructure after you have secured – you've provided an environment of security by the additional troops and they – and we can put enough pressure on to clean up the corruption. But the fact is if you set an arbitrary date, regardless of conditions on the ground you are sending the wrong message," McCain said. "We succeeded in Iraq and then the Iraqis asked us to leave. It was after the success, not before."

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Ken Millstone
Ken Millstone is an assignment editor at CBSNews.com

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by justdatrooth December 3, 2009 3:11 AM EST: No problem paying for it. Obama will just runn an even BIGGER deficit than he did this year!!! See how easy that is!!!! Obama is a genius.; Reply to this comment


by morgan378 December 2, 2009 1:19 PM EST: McCain deprecates the "withdrawl in 18 months" as telling our enemies to stay low and watch out until then. What he doesn't understand is that the message to Karzai is the most important one. Karzai doesn't get his crap in one bag and start doing more than wearing his robe and looking pretty will end up going "down with the ship". Karzai needs to get out there and start pressing his points instead o taking kick-backs rom the drug cartels. Obama gave the withdrawl date simply to tell Karzai that in case he had ideas that he would just go along to get along. Which won't work. He's been suckling on out teet too long and needs to be more than a "Grand Poohbah" - Pashtun or not he needs to get out there and see what the people need - they need security and in*rastructure. Once that's provided - as in Iraq - Karzai can rest on his laurels - not until. He tries to blame the corruption on the US with "why don't they oversee their programs"? That's a cop-out. He should have his government oversee the entire *oreign aid packages *rom all nations and mete it out responsibly. The US should double check them in a manner not overbearing - but know what's going on with our tax paying monies. Once both put down checks and balances (we're not supposed to be overlooking them with our money in a childlike demeanor - or why give it to them at all?)they can put their government on a responsible track. It's all up to them - not us. McChrystal probably saw how uneducated and uninspired the A*ghan people are and thus had to ask not only *or troops, but also civilian assistance. I don't think we should hold back now, - but 18 months - depending on what happens - may be too much to hope.; Reply to this comment


by mjlewis6 December 2, 2009 10:32 AM EST: I have as long a memory of the Senate Republicans in the majority party at the time dictating to then President Clinton as embarking on nation-building and not wanting him to get involved in any overseas wars...to the express avoidance of their war-powers.

Despite attacks at the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia against Americans stationed there, embassy attacks in East Africa, and on the USS Cole....zip on war powers or declaration of war...since they were more interested in weakening the Presidency over his private affair with Monica Lewinsky and touting that in the House as High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

These same Republicans see no problem with torture? Red Cross as witnesses to the violations of the Geneva Conventions on treatment of POWs....?? Cheney and Bush and a lot of people should be behind bars for renditions and torture...but still zip is happening...

So much for the rule of law when the lawmakers themselves are avoiding their responsibilities regarding abuses of power by former heads of state. Cardinal Richelieu's Letter from the Three Musketeers resounds to this day: "....for the good of the state!" It always seems in the interest of the state to forget abuses of power.; Reply to this comment


by BeckieBest December 2, 2009 9:43 AM EST: The ultra-conservative majority in McCain's own party don't take him seriously.

Why should anyone else?; Reply to this comment

by nextgenman09 December 2, 2009 5:56 AM EST

McCain: I have Alzheimer's, picked a trailer trash hoot bumpkin for my last running mate but I should still be taken seriously! No really! Don't make me throw a tantrum and load up my Depends!

Reply to this comment


by sleepyric December 2, 2009 8:18 AM EST: Really....if you had you're way, we'd stay forever like South Korea. Ok mister Pres Loser - where would all that money come from? You showed your decision making skills when you chose the Playboy Bunny for your running mate. Disappear and keep your mouth shut while someone tries to clean up the mess your party made.


by stillwaters6 December 2, 2009 9:30 AM EST: Sara palin...your thoughts?

by r9119111 December 2, 2009 5:26 AM EST

by bdbeans December 2, 2009 12:58 AM EST

-----

Like you, I am once again proud to be an American and very grateful that President Obama is our Cammander in Chief. Thank you.

Reply to this comment


by nextgenman09 December 2, 2009 5:59 AM EST: But then its not your children being sent to die.


by unshrub December 2, 2009 1:36 AM EST: I think it's time that McCain's aids tell him he lost the election, and Obama is Commander in Chief.; Reply to this comment


by bdbeans December 2, 2009 12:58 AM EST: Isn't it nice when you're not the guy who won the election and took the oath of office of President of the United States of America?

You get to sit back and armchair quarterback the decisions of the guy who did.

There's a word I'm searching for here, but I can't quite find, it's right on the tip of my tongue... Ooooh, what's the word?

IRRELEVANT

Oh yeah, that's it. Irrelevant.

It's what your opinion is when you're not the guy who's gotta make and live with, for better or for worse, a decision that will undoubtedly send tens of thousands of American service men and women into combat and more than a few of them to early graves.

Somebody needs to tell Senator McCain, while the batteries in his hearing aid are still fresh, that the Republicans had their chance. They blew it.

If he wants a cause to champion, let him head a full-scale senate investigation into the systemic disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of minority voters by Republican party members in Florida in 2000, and Ohio in 2004. Maybe that'll help restore his parties legitimacy in the eyes of minority voters, and breath a bit of fresh air into the Republican Party at the same time.

Otherwise he's just another Republican windbag, still sore about losing a Presidential election (not to mention Congress) to the Democrats and one underdog Democratic Senator from Illinois.

I am so glad to have a thoughtful, intelligent, even handed, boldly diplomatic, Democrat as President.

It almost makes up for the eight year recurring nightmare of having George W. Bush as our President.; Reply to this comment


by slownewsday-5 December 1, 2009 11:36 PM EST: I'm not into staying there forever. Go in, do what needs to be done. I'm glad we're in a position that Obama thinks there's a clear end in sight, but I don't share the view. Maybe I'm too much of a student of history...

I think it would be great to turn the place over to the Afgans, but I don't think it'll happen on the timetable he is talking about. I think he's looking at a long-term engagement no matter what he says about a withdrawal (not that I wouldn't support the withdrawal).; Reply to this comment