The Objectives
The smartest man in Washington (in the absence of ol’ nemesis Bill Clinton) refused to comment on President Obama’s troops withdrawal plans.
“I refuse to comment directly on the Afghanistan decision because I think if you don’t put it in context, it makes zero sense,”
23 June 2011, Politico
However, he commented on the subject the next day
“There is a radical Islamist war against America and our allies. It would be helpful if President Obama had found time in his speech tonight to explain to the American people how we are going to win this war. Giving a speech in isolation about our military operations in Afghanistan without explaining how it connects with a larger strategy for winning the war against radical Islamists does not help Americans understand what it will take to provide for the security of the American people.”
23 June 20121, Facebook post
And a week later “None of the generals recommended the speed of the drawdown that the president wants”
29 June 2011, On The Record, FoxNews
Pakistan
Gingrich took Pakistan to task for retaliating against informants who led the US forces to Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad. Speaking at Republican Party fundraiser in Baltimore on June 24, 2011, Gingrich said, "We should have taken extraordinary actions against Pakistanis -- within 24 hours. We should have said if you don't release those people you can assume we have no relationship and we'll chat with you from India."
“The situation in Pakistan is extremely troubling. After $20 billion in aid since 9/11 we discovered that bin Laden was not hiding in a cave in Waziristan, but in a large compound in a military city within one mile of the Pakistani national defense university. Instead of looking for those who had been protecting bin Laden, Pakistan's response has been to arrest those who helped America discover bin Laden. This should be considered a crisis in our relationship with Pakistan with profound implications for our operations in Afghanistan.”
23 June 20121, Facebook post
