LJS: White backs Obama on Afghanistan

Don Walton, Lincoln Journal-Star
December 2, 2009

President Barack Obama's Afghanistan strategy is the most responsible way to try to deal with "the awful mess" he inherited from the Bush administration, Democratic congressional candidate Tom White said Wednesday.

White, challenging Republican Rep. Lee Terry in next year's 2nd District House race, endorsed Obama's policy of rapidly increasing the U.S. troop commitment now and planning to begin withdrawal in 18 months.

Terry issued a statement supporting the president's decision to send an additional 30,000 troops.

"President Obama has made the right decision to increase our ground troops in Afghanistan," Terry stated.

"To succeed, we must show strong military leadership, create jobs for Afghans and provide security to their communities."

Unlike some Democratic members of Congress who criticized Obama's troop escalation, White said the president has chosen the responsible course.

Obama was handed deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan spawned by "the absolute malpractice" of the Bush administration, White said.

The administration failed to pursue and kill Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders when that could have been accomplished, he said.

And George W. Bush transferred attention and resources from Afghanistan to launch a war in Iraq, White said.

Obama's decision to set a time to begin withdrawal is wise policy, the Omaha state senator said.

"The problem we have with an indeterminate commitment is that it has enabled our sometimes friends to do nothing," he said.

"That strategy (was) incredibly counterproductive.

"President Obama is quite correct in stating he needed to instill a sense of urgency in our allies."

White said he is wary of the war as a member of "a generation that has Vietnam tattooed into its brain."

The personal corruption of Hamid Karzai carries "a whiff of Diem," the corrupt and undependable leader of South Vietnam, he said.

But Obama successfully made the case that this war is not like Vietnam, White said.

Dangerous conditions in neighboring Pakistan, a nuclear state threatened by extremists and terrorists, require U.S. action, he said.

"These people brought death to Americans on American land," White said.