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Deadline Has Its Detractors Criticism of Obama’S Timetable for Troop Withdrawals Surfaces Outside of GOP

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Deadline Has Its Detractors Criticism of Obama’S Timetable for Troop Withdrawals Surfaces Outside of GOP OMAHA WORLD-HERALD AFGHANISTAN SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014 • 9A Deadline has its detractors Criticism of Obama’s timetable for troop withdrawals surfaces outside of GOP THE NEW YORK TIMES WASHINGTON — Criticism of President Barack Obama’s announcement that U.S. forc- es would leave Afghanistan by the end of 2016 has begun THE ASSOCIATED PRESS to come not just from his Re- President Barack Obama with Jani and Bob Bergdahl on May 31 after publican adversaries but also speaking about the release of their son, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, from another quarter: former who had been held prisoner by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. military officers and civilian officials who worked for years to develop and defend his administration’s strategy in Taliban captive’s Afghanistan. These critics’ worry is that the withdrawal schedule Obama has set is so rigid and dad never lost hope compressed that it will curtail efforts to train and advise Af- ghan security forces. Facing THE LOS ANGELES TIMES “I’m proud of how the possibility of a stepped-up HAILEY, Idaho — In the military challenge from the midst of his fi ve-year-long vigil much you wanted to Taliban, those forces still suf- at home while his son was held fer from serious deficiencies, by Taliban extremists half a help the Afghan people, they say. world away, Bob Bergdahl in “If it was a timeline with THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2011 made a personal video for and what you were a strong statement that said Afghan National Army soldiers at graduation ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Center on June 1. the Pakistani government that ‘Hey, this is our plan, but no Critics worry that U.S. soldiers won’t have sufficient time before their withdrawal to train Afghan forces. he hoped would be delivered willing to do to go to plan survives contact with to his boy, Army Sgt. Bowe reality and, of course, we are iban would probably “become Bergdahl. that length. And I think going to adjust based on con- a greater threat to Afghani- “These are my thoughts. I ditions on the ground,’ then stan’s stability in the 2015-18 can remain silent no longer,” you have succeeded.” no problem,” said Michèle A. time frame than it is now.” the father began. He stood in Flournoy, who served as the Not all former officials are a black shirt, his bushy blond Bob Bergdahl to his son, undersecretary of defense for opposed to a public deadline beard worn long, as men also Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl policy during Obama’s fi rst for withdrawing U.S. forces. do in war-ravaged Afghanistan. term. “Are the Afghans on the James N. Miller, who succeed- The snow-streaked hill behind path we have planned for, or ed Flournoy as the Pentagon’s him in central Idaho resembled beard in solidarity with his son are they not? Is the insurgen- craggy Afghan mountains. — its length and unruliness a top policy official before cy as we expected, or is it leaving the government in In the three-minute video, he reminder to residents in Wood worse? All those things have mentioned several high-rank- River Valley of just how long January, said a deadline would to be factored in. send a message of urgency to ing Pakistani generals by his son had been in captivity. “But what I am hearing out the Afghans and to America’s name, thanking them for their As the father had assured of the White House is that allies. sacrifices. Then he went on to the son in the 2011 video, ‘Hell or high water, this is “There are significant risks thank the Taliban forces that he was not quiet behind the what we are going to do.’ ” were holding his son. scenes. James N. Mattis, the retired in any approach, and the op- “Strangely, to some,” he As the years passed, Berg- Marine general who oversaw tion that the president chose said, “we must also thank those dahl became frustrated over the war in Afghanistan as is a reasonable balancing of who have cared for our son the stymied negotiations for head of the U.S. Central Com- those risks,” Miller said. “It for almost two years. We know his son’s release. He accused mand from 2010 to 2013, said means that we are going to our son is a prisoner, but at the Obama administration of it was particularly unwise have to work very hard in abandoning the matter. He the same time a guest in your to set a public deadline for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS partnership with the Afghans home.” developed sources in Afghani- removing U.S. troops. to build their capacity, and He then addressed his son, stan that were in contact with U.S. Marines hang back and observe as Afghan National Army “When you set a deadline, soldiers question occupants of a car stopped at a checkpoint. with the Pakistanis to con- sending his love and assuring his son’s captors, and he trav- you give the enemy a reason strain the Taliban and go after him: “We’ve been quiet in pub- eled to Washington to argue his for optimism, and in foreign preferred more fl exibility. of their own in Afghanistan in al-Qaida.” cause. lic, but we haven’t been quiet policy, we should be reticent Under Obama’s plan, the 2015, U.S. officials said. But other former officials The UPS deliveryman began behind the scene.” at telling our adversaries in 32,000 U.S. troops in Afghan- In outlining their plans, U.S. said that international aid posting on Twitter and other Since Bowe Bergdahl’s advance what we will not do,” istan would be cut to 9,800 as well as NATO officials are efforts might dry up as soon social media. Slowly, he began release May 31, critics at Mattis said. after this year, a level that operating on the assumption as U.S. troops depart, and that to give lengthy interviews in home are demanding that the Obama’s plan has defend- would enable the United that Afghanistan would sign a it would be harder to gather U.S. Army prosecute him for which he criticized the U.S. ers, including Defense Secre- States and other NATO na- security agreement with the intelligence and take action strategy in Afghanistan. deserting his post before he tary Chuck Hagel, Secretary tions to keep advisers at the United States that has already Bergdahl’s last message against residual al-Qaida was captured, as some soldiers of State John Kerry and major Afghan regional head- been negotiated, as well as came days before his son’s threats in the region when in his unit have claimed. In Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the quarters across the country. one that is still to be worked release, a tweet apparently U.S. forces and bases have emails sent to friends before chairman of the Joint Chiefs In 2015 the United States out with the alliance. directed toward a Taliban gone. he fell into Taliban hands, of Staff, each of whom issued plans to take the lead role in President Hamid Karzai has Sgt. Bergdahl had expressed spokesman that was later Flournoy expressed con- a statement of support. advising and training Afghan refused to sign the agreement, cern about how effective the dissatisfaction with America’s deleted from his account. “I “The American people want forces in southern and eastern but he will leave office after advisory effort would be once role in Afghanistan. am still working to free all our job fi nished here, but they Afghanistan, with Italy also his successor is chosen in a U.S. forces are pulled back to Bob Bergdahl is now under Guantánamo prisoners. God want it fi nished the right way,” operating in the east, Germa- runoff election scheduled for Kabul and Bagram at the end increased public scrutiny as will repay for the death of Hagel said last week during ny in the north and Turkey in July; both candidates in the of 2015. well. Were his actions those of every Afghan child,” he wrote, a stop in Afghanistan. “And Kabul. runoff have indicated that “They basically have a year a worried parent who would ending in the common Muslim I think we’re on a path to do But by the end of 2015, they would sign. do anything to gain the release prayer conclusion, “Ameen.” that over the next two years.” half of the 9,800 troops would But some officials doubt the with the Afghan divisions, of his child as the U.S. govern- And then, on May 31, Bowe But one senior U.S. official, leave Afghanistan. The rest wisdom of announcing that all working daily,” she said. “Af- ment’s efforts lagged? Bergdahl climbed into a U.S. who declined to be identified would be consolidated in U.S. troops would leave by the ter that, they probably have Was this, as some have sug- Army helicopter, heading because he was discussing in- Kabul and Bagram, and then end of 2016. An assessment of a concept that they will be gested, a case, by extension, of toward freedom. ternal deliberations, said that leave by the end of 2016, al- Afghanistan’s forces ordered engaging with them on major Stockholm syndrome, in which In an emotional press con- the White House had insisted lowing Obama to say he ended by Congress and prepared by exercises or will have mobile hostages express empathy for ference with President Barack on announcing a deadline for the Afghanistan War before the Center for Naval Analysis, teams going out to visit.
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