Thursday
Jan292009
Sen. Lieberman outlines how U.S. can win in Afghanistan
Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 4:22PM
In a meeting today at the Brookings Institution, Senator Lieberman (I- Conn.) said, "Despite the missteps and difficulties in Afghanistan, I am still confident we can turn the tide there."
Lieberman spoke about how the overall goal should be to secure the civilian population, and stated that although reaching this goal will be a long and difficult task, there are many reasons to be hopeful.
The first reason for optimism which the Senator pointed out is the appointment of Richard Holbrook as the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. "The combination of Dick Holbrook and Dave Petraeus, working under Bob Gates and Hilary Clinton is not a team that I would bet against," he said.
Lieberman showed that he believes it is of utmost importance that the US remain steadfast and determined in Afghanistan, for it is the front line of the war against Islamic extremism. "We all agree our foremost interest in Afghanistan is preventing that country from becoming a terrorist safehaven. But the only realistic way to prevent that from happening is through the emergence of a stable and legitimate political order in Afghanistan backed by capable indigenous security forces. Neither of those realities is going to materialize without a significant and sustained American commitment," he stated.
Lieberman showed that with full U.S. commitment and help from allies, we can promise a better life for millions of Afghani civilians, while the extremists will not. "That ultimately is how I believe the war on terror will end," he concluded.
Lieberman spoke about how the overall goal should be to secure the civilian population, and stated that although reaching this goal will be a long and difficult task, there are many reasons to be hopeful.
The first reason for optimism which the Senator pointed out is the appointment of Richard Holbrook as the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. "The combination of Dick Holbrook and Dave Petraeus, working under Bob Gates and Hilary Clinton is not a team that I would bet against," he said.
Lieberman showed that he believes it is of utmost importance that the US remain steadfast and determined in Afghanistan, for it is the front line of the war against Islamic extremism. "We all agree our foremost interest in Afghanistan is preventing that country from becoming a terrorist safehaven. But the only realistic way to prevent that from happening is through the emergence of a stable and legitimate political order in Afghanistan backed by capable indigenous security forces. Neither of those realities is going to materialize without a significant and sustained American commitment," he stated.
Lieberman showed that with full U.S. commitment and help from allies, we can promise a better life for millions of Afghani civilians, while the extremists will not. "That ultimately is how I believe the war on terror will end," he concluded.
Senators Cite Support For SOAR Act
The Scholarships For Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR) has been giving low income students in the District of Columbia the opportunity to receive a better education by providing scholarships to them to attend various private schools in the city. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), along with former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and former D.C. Councilman Kevin Chavous shared their support of the program at a press conference Thursday.
“The only message I have for the administration which I support dearly is, it is time to put up or shut up! Either we are going to work for kids and make sure the deeds match the rhetoric or we’re not,” said Chavous.
Surrounded by children, Sen. Collins discussed why it is important for the children in the District to have a chance to attend private schools.
“I am looking at these students here and I am reading the words that some of their stickers have and I see the word hope and I see the word opportunity. But the words that I like best are worn by this little girl right in front of me and she is wearing the words 'what about me?' And I think that’s the question you should ask anyone who is opposing our efforts to extend this important program,” said Collins.
At the end of the press conference, a parent of a child, who will have to return to public school if the bill is not passed, gave a tearful testimony about her daughter’s education experience.
“My child was in public school and it was a good school but now that she is in private school there is a big difference. So these people are trying to help us so much.....And I am so glad and I hope that you pass it and that every parent has the opportunity that I had,” said the parent.