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James Carafano discusses the strategy that could keep US involved for another 10 years
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Let's bring -- James -- comment that we've director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison center for foreign policy studies at The Heritage Foundation good to see James.
-- -- -- -- -- I'm so when.
This deal wouldn't going to be in Afghanistan in effect.
For another ten years even off to -- -- draw down or even withdrawal of the vast majority of troops and quite a -- number.
Staying that is this a good deal for the US.
Why I think there's two things that are good one is particularly good for.
President Obama and that he -- -- we're gonna have NATO summit in Chicago it's been the first time we've ever had -- NATO summit in the United States outside of Washington.
It's a really big deal and it and to this point it kind of looked like a big nothing -- where the president would walk into the summit.
And -- virtually nothing to talk about -- Iran.
Now he can at least walk in and say we have afraid it framework to keeping gates in Afghanistan -- I think that's very important.
For the president and -- the NATO commitment.
In Afghanistan.
The other thing is -- look -- let's be honest I've been a big fan of the president's policies in the strategy I think they too few troops and pulled out far too quickly.
And I don't think we're close to be -- walk away and have Afghanistan be a success.
This framework is at least strong enough -- broad enough and open ended up.
It demonstrate the US is still committed and it allows for adjustments in the future because if we really see the presidents of fundamental mistake to go back and fix them.
Right and you didn't you didn't seem to imply as many would I think that.
It's unlikely to be able to function on its own as a secure country in their -- -- they absolutely will need -- that and may need us to go back in greater numbers either.
Well that that the point was is what you really got to do is to keep the Taliban from coming back in as an organized military force taking back over the country and setting up sanctuaries through that.
Allocated to come back and declare victory and start playing more nine elevenths.
To do that you had a pacify the south and the east to create sufficient capacity on the ground in the local villages and among the people.
You just keep for the Taliban from washing back in.
Like tsunami and we kind of did that in the south and it's actually taken hold pretty well.
But the president didn't give enough troops are enough times -- the east so we're kind of half walking through this and he says so it's likely they'll kinda half -- -- And the rainy seasons come and so much -- wanna walk completely away.
You let me bring Scott Blake went into this -- I can imagine a lot of our viewers.
Looking at this deal thinking OK another ten heroes and perhaps ten.
Of thousands of troops still -- we will get out of Afghanistan -- Jon Huntsman last night's that we should accelerate a -- I totally agree than you know there's no military -- To victory in Afghanistan we tried in a word our surge right now and -- tax rollover rating could cobble in the Green Zone.
As other military people -- in this program the only way out is a negotiated settlement bringing in Pakistan India Iran everywhere in the region and yes the Taliban who we -- talking to right now the Taliban needs to be folded back -- the government not and -- and military way not as harsh ways before they have no connection with al-Qaeda right now there is no al-Qaeda Afghans that we need to bring them back now.
Get out of their military they have involvement in other ways but there's no reason that military presence James isn't a bottom line here that Afghanistan never changes the brits tried to do it.
A long time -- fellow Russians tried to do well I don't look god give me a break Afghanistan's been many different countries over its history it's been.
You know in the silk -- it was the center of the universe and there -- periods.
Back in this in the sixties and was actually very stable.
So let's get a -- -- lots of that people are people people determine their future and this notion that somehow this is historically determined that this has to be a land of blood and violence forever.
I mean come on give me a break really -- you you believe that did that Afghanistan can be built.
Wait -- US help into a functioning democracy.
No I -- never said that London you know nations don't build nations nations build themselves.
Can the people of Afghanistan build the land where they can live in in a relative peace and prosperity.
And I think the answer is is yes can you just play a role in helping that yes is the answer starting in Kabul and creating some centralized state.
The answer is of course not the continue -- helped create the capacity in the countryside.
For self government and for legitimate rule and I think we we demonstrated that in the -- look we went in the Helmand Province.
People -- we couldn't go we couldn't win we couldn't drive the Taliban out and we did that so you know I think we're just gonna sit here and make these broad pronouncements.
We're never gonna have any real progress and anybody really believe.
That you could sit -- around a table with India and Pakistan.
And Taliban and the Afghanistan government.
And come up with a negotiated solution.
That's gonna bring peace I mean that's like saying let's bring Hitler and Churchill to the table and come up with a negotiated solution.
That's going to be peace and -- and we've got to be realistic the real lives real dollars on the on the on the line here.
And we have to have real solutions that look after our interest so -- we were not fans.
Mark day six -- the real solution then is it -- you leave your leaving out of Pakistan and Iran.
And others in -- view and the real solution is being -- aback by the US and Afghanistan.
Well the Clinton did.
A lot of it's not going to be a constructive -- alone is actually the enemy of the Taliban so now we have the situation with the Iranians are actually helping the Taliban.
Because they want Afghanistan to be weak and fragmented so the notion that -- on -- gonna participate.
In this in some kind of negotiated settlement that's gonna create an Afghanistan that strong and self governing.
I mean that's kind of laughable.
You know and Pakistan that it looks and they look at the US leaving in -- so we're just gonna go back and did.
Well we did after the Russians left will try to control the Taliban and use them to -- -- -- interest in Afghanistan.
So certainly.
Pakistan does not have the interest of Afghanistan -- -- -- Iran arguably the country that would be most interested in seeing Iran.
Excuse me I've got to stand -- -- would be India.
And for that matter I think -- he would like to see Pakistan progress.
All right James Canton -- director of the Douglas and Sarah house and senate from foreign policy studies of -- advantage -- great to have you -- of very interesting debate one note we will know back.
No doubt be returning to -- thank you very much as always for being here.
Thank you so much --
