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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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'Irresponsible' to Send Troops Without Election Results: Kerry

Says Afghan leadership needs to be in place

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(Newser) – The US is in no position to send more troops to Afghanistan with that country's presidential election still up in the air, Sen. John Kerry told State of the Union in an interview yesterday. Speaking from Kabul ahead of an announcement on whether a runoff would be held, the Senate Foreign Relations chair dismissed further commitment as "irresponsible ... when we don't even have an election finished and know who the president is."

Kerry was quick to dismiss criticism of President Obama's deliberations on whether to send troops, saying, "I think this is being approached in an entirely responsible way." The interview airs this morning.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during the committee's hearing on the al-Qaeda threat in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, in Washington.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during the committee's hearing on the al-Qaeda threat in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., presides over a hearing on the al-Qaeda threat in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, in Washington.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., presides over a hearing on the al-Qaeda threat in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., listens as Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., listens as Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Thursday, May 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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When our own general tells us that a critical component is good governance, and we're living with a government we know has to change, how could the president say, oh, they asked for more, sure, here they are? - Sen. John Kerry

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25 comments
VIEWING:
 
Reader64481089
Oct 18, 09 8:27 AM CDT
Kerry is correct, The election results showed much fraud and with results unclear the US needs to be slow and deliberate until results are known by having a 2nd election with results that can be trusted. Reply
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
doingtherightthing
Oct 18, 09 10:50 AM CDT
my take on Kerry is this: He lied to congress about Americans committing war atrocities. He lost his presidential bid because his lies. Anything he says and stands for is a farce because he's a liar. He has no loyalty to anyone except himself......he's a piece of crap.........
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
Caps
Oct 18, 09 2:36 PM CDT
And so are you.
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-2
IN RESPONSE:
Cat-Lover
Oct 18, 09 4:18 PM CDT
While I did not vote for Kerry (I was moving away from my Republican past slowly being destroyed by bUSH, et. al.) he was, and remains, the only Republican (with the exception of Gen. Colin Powell -- who was also moving away from his Republican past slowly being destroyed by bUSH, et.al.) with any real military experience. None of the top GOPer's (McCain, who spent his military time a prisoner, captured at the start of his career, included) had any combat time and know nothing about fighting first hand. Republicans are businessmen first and foremost, who seek financial gain from war. A plague on their house!
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
Citrixguy
Oct 18, 09 9:09 AM CDT
Kerry is wrong. The troops need the reinforcements, but kerry is a war coward, and is not qualified to make those type of judgments. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2

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