Asking Senator John McCain A Question on Afghanistan

Senator John McCain came to my school yesterday (University of Tampa) for a visit with ROTC Cadets and Veterans. It was a good event, non-partisan, just “The Maverick” talking about the world and what is going on in the Middle East.

He certainly knows his stuff — especially with such seniority in the Senate — but I certainly disagree with him on some issues. One is Afghanistan. He kept mentioning the surge strategy in Iraq and applying it to Afghanistan. I couldn’t help but ask him the following:

“Senator McCain, it’s an honor to be see you here today. I have a question in regards to the war in Afghanistan.

You keep mentioning the surge strategy in Iraq. That surge was instrumental in the war and initially increased the number of attacks on troops but eventually they leveled off and then the number of attacks drastically fell.

Unlike that surge, the Afghan surge of 30,000 troops has seen attacks increase each month, according to open source intelligence. Our rules of engagement for troops in contact mean increasingly that our soldiers and Marines are not getting the artillery and close air support that they need. Further, our own Afghan security forces are continuing to shoot our troops on our own bases.

We have given a pullout date of 2014. My question is, why are we waiting until then?”

Unfortunately, he did like most politicians do when they don’t want to answer a question. They answer a completely different one. I don’t think he understood what I was asking so he answered as if my point was that we need to end the war now, get troops come home immediately, etc.

What I was trying to say was that the war strategy right now is not working, we are not effective in the job (due to ROEs/Politicians), and we should either change strategy or leave immediately.

He started talking about how the terrorists would continue to use it, we’re fighting the guys from where 9/11 originated, etc.

After I came home from the event, I looked around for news coverage. I found some, but interestingly enough, I found a story on Rep. C.W. Young, a staunch supporter of the war, who has just come out in favor of immediate withdrawal. The story says the following:

The congressman said he came to his new position after talking with veterans over the past three months and hearing about what a “real mess” Afghanistan is in.

I know John McCain often visits troops overseas and gets their opinions. I wonder what he’s hearing on his trips?

And finally, here’s a news story where I am mentioned, although I’m only referred to as student.

Category: Military issues