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Kerry Plans 'Hard Look at Afghanistan'

Foreign Relations Committee must ensure effort is 'Afghan, not American'

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2009 1:35 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will “take a hard look at Afghanistan” in the coming months, John Kerry tells GlobalPost. The committee hasn’t yet publicly scrutinized the administration’s effort in the country, but “we are not going to abrogate our responsibility,” says the senator, who made a name for himself testifying against the Vietnam War before the committee he now chairs.

“In fairness to this administration, they have done what prior administrations did not do, which is accurately define a mission and a rationale for our presence,” Kerry says. Key to the mission is ensuring “that this is an Afghan operation and not an American one.” Success, Kerry notes, “depends on whether the Afghans themselves invest and start engaging.” Meanwhile, the Senate will study the House climate change bill—and Kerry says the upper chamber won’t change it much.

In this photo taken Saturday, June 20, 2009, U.S. Marines step through a hole they blew in a mud wall during a battle against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's Helmand province.
In this photo taken Saturday, June 20, 2009, U.S. Marines step through a hole they blew in a mud wall during a battle against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's Helmand province.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, R- Mass., presides over a hearing on the nomination of Christopher Hill to be the next ambassador to Iraq, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, R- Mass., presides over a hearing on the nomination of Christopher Hill to be the next ambassador to Iraq, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, on Capitol...   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
In this May 12, 2009 file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. speaks during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
In this May 12, 2009 file photo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. speaks during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Jul 10, 2009 10:44 AM CDT
He called the Dems in Ohio and asked them if they had or could get any solid evidence of chicanery in Ohio. They said no. Since then some interesting things have come out of Ohio but at the time there was nothing to fight with.
JonmarkP
Jul 10, 2009 9:18 AM CDT
Kerry threw in the towel without a fight in 2004, even though the presidential election had clearly been subverted for the 2nd time. This Heinz fortune gigolo and butt-buddy to big business needs to retire, the sooner the better. Screw him and his wussy opinions.
Politics • Green • World

 
Afghanistan • climate change • John Kerry • Senate • Massachusetts • Vietnam War • climate change legislation • Senate Foreign Relations Committee • Afghanistan war • US Senate

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