Bush Afghanistan Policy Raked at Hearing

[gateley]

(I watched this - the Reps were as disgusted as the Dems. Good to know)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Skeptical senators from both parties swept aside the Bush administration's optimistic defense of its strategy in Afghanistan Thursday, suggesting weariness over the campaign against the Taliban.

Testifying for the administration before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Assistant Secretary of State Richard A. Boucher said "no one can tell me that Afghanistan is not going in the right direction." In a country that was one of the poorest in the world, he said there now is electricity, an army, a police force, cellular telephones and children going to school.


"We see a profound change," Boucher said.

Success is possible, but not assured, he added, saying the international community needs to expand its efforts in Afghanistan.

Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del., the committee chairman, and the most senior Republican, Sen. Richard G. Lugar R-Ind., expressed disbelief at Boucher's optimism.

"The administration firmly believes that we are about to turn a corner and that we just need to give our policy a chance to work," Biden said. "I am curious what that policy is because it's not clear to me."

"That's exactly what we've been hearing for the past five years; the tide is always about to turn," Biden said.

Lugar, reflecting unrest in President Bush's own Republican Party, began mildly: "I am not really certain we have a plan for Afghanistan."

more...

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iWxiu65iLP4CvDJ7BEsBOx-u_vdwD8UH38CG0

[opihimoimoi]

1. BS can only go so far....the Bushies petered out last year...they look like shit

and they know it too.