What’s a Win in Afghanistan Look Like? CIA Explains
EmailIn the fog of war, how do we know when we’ve won? Ask the CIA.
In an EXCLUSIVE interview on “This Week,” CIA Director Leon Panetta explained what winning in Afghanistan would look like.
“Winning in Afghanistan is having a country that is stable enough to ensure that there is no safehaven for Al Qaeda or for a militant Taliban that welcomes Al Qaeda,” Panetta told host Jake Tapper. “That’s really the measure of success for the United States.”
“Our purpose, our whole mission there, is to make sure that Al Qaeda never finds another safehaven from which to attack this country. That’s the fundamental goal of why the United States is there,” he said. “And the measure of success for us is: do you have an Afghanistan that is stable enough to make sure that never happens.”
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Russia tried, lost thousands and went bankrupt, then their government collapsed.
America tried… lost thou–Oh, wait a minute!!!
Posted by: CBA | June 27, 2010, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Steve Benen at Political Animal had a good response to this part of the interview. (PANETTA EXPLAINS WHAT ‘WINNING’ LOOKS LIKE.) And I pretty much agree with him– there’s nothing wrong with Panetta’s vision; its compelling and persuasive. BUT it depends on a a stable, reliable, competent Afghan government which doesn’t exist, and the Taliban already has control of much of Afghanistan.
Posted by: progressive mama | June 27, 2010, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
“Our purpose, our whole mission there, is to make sure that Al Qaeda never finds another safehaven from which to attack this country. ”
Let’s hope Al Queda doesn’t discover Pakistan, a possible safe haven from which they can attack our country….duh
Posted by: Sigmonde | June 27, 2010, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Thanks to President Obama sticking with Karzai after Karzai’s bad-joke Aug. 2009 re-election, we’ve already outdone the Soviets. We haven’t pulled out yet and there is a power vacuum. With Karzai now buddying up to the Taliban and Pakistan — and India inevitably looking to counteract what Pakistan is up to in Afghanistan — this time around the warlord-led Afghan civil war can resume in full tempo while a foreign occupation force is still present.
Posted by: dom youngross | June 27, 2010, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm