OMAHA WORLD-HERALD 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 ’s announcement that U.S. forc- es would leave Afghanistan by the end of 2016 has begun THE 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 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 , 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 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. But their captors? Obama last Sunday, Bob Berg- removing U.S. forces even leaving office. a federally fi nanced research it is not a situation in which Or was it something more: dahl described how the land- though many civilian and America’s NATO allies are center that is part of the CNA you are living, breathing and an aggrieved American family scape and people of both Idaho military officials would have expected to keep 4,000 troops Corp., concluded that the Tal- eating with them every day.” that had come to doubt its own and Afghanistan were similar country? — hardworking families in a Bob Bergdahl, many say, mountainous land. “If it was a timeline with a strong statement that said ‘Hey, this is our plan, was waging his own unde- “I’m proud of how much you clared war at home. wanted to help the Afghan peo- but no plan survives contact with reality and, of course, we are going to adjust based The conservative Presby- ple, and what you were willing terian learned , the to do to go to that length,” he on conditions on the ground,’ then no problem. ... But what I am hearing out language of his son’s captors; said. studied Arabic; and immersed Fighting back tears, he of the White House is that ‘Hell or high water, this is what we are going to do.’ ” himself in the stories of other added, “And I think you have Americans held abroad. He succeeded.” Michèle A. Flournoy, who served as the undersecretary of defense for policy during President Obama’s fi rst term began growing his hair and He didn’t elaborate. Shiftingtone,butnotcontradictions, -ATTENTION - inpresident’sspeechesonterrorism Merck &Co.

T HE NEW YORK TIMES that the policies laid out in his min J. Rhodes, a deputy national Employees and Retirees WASHINGTON — Few speeches are consistent. security adviser who had a leaders place more weight than Taken together, the speeches major role in writing all of them. President Barack Obama on the offer a portrait of a president “What’s different is the time and If you are invested in Merck&Co. Employee’s 401(k) power of the spoken word to whose ambivalence about the context where they were given.” Savings and Security Plan we would like to speak with you clarify a messy world. But after wisdom of military action has Rhodes said Obama’s diag- 5½ years and dozens of speech- only deepened since he took nosis of the threat as an arc aboutour investigation of the fees and investment es, Obama’s pronouncements office, even as his view of the of militancy stretching from options in your 401(k) plan. have grown muddier. world’s dangers has darkened. the Middle East to Africa was Speaking to cadets May 28 In Oslo 4½ years ago, the nearly identical last month and a at the U.S. Military Academy, president was justifying to an year ago. His criteria for the use Please call: Obama said: “For the foresee- audience of diplomats and Nobel of force — unilaterally, when the able future, the most direct laureates his decision a week nation’s interests are directly at threat to America, at home and earlier to send 30,000 additional risk; multilaterally, in the case Mark Boyko abroad, remains terrorism.” A troops to Afghanistan. At West of humanitarian crises — were year ago, speaking at the Nation- Point last month, he was giving unchanged from 2009. Law Offices of al Defense University here, the marching orders to the newest “We’re simply in a different president said of the post-9/11 class of Army officers a day af- moment in time,” Rhodes said. war on terrorism: “This war, like ter announcing that the last U.S. In his second term, a time that SCHLICHTER BOGARD &DENTON,LLP all wars, must end.” soldier would leave Afghanistan presidents typically set about Accepting the Nobel Peace by the end of 2016. cementing their legacies as Prize in 2009, he said: “There At the National Defense statesmen, Obama has settled on will be times when nations, University last year, Obama was a minimalist foreign policy. acting individually or in concert, explaining how he planned to “There is a fundamental and (800) 873-5297 will fi nd the use of force not only pull the largely covert war on profound distinction between (MissouriLicensed Attorneys) necessary but morally justified.” terrorism out of the shadows. At this speech and the earlier At West Point, he said: “Since West Point, he was telling cadets speeches,” said David J. Roth- th World War II, some of our most to expect an enduring terrorist kopf, the publisher of Foreign 100 South4 Street #900 costly mistakes came not from threat different from the one Policy magazine. “The Nobel our restraint but from our graduates faced in the decade Prize speech was infused with St. Louis, MO 63102 willingness to rush into military after the 9/11 attacks. hope, ambition and the desire adventures without thinking “These speeches are all very to better the world. This speech through the consequences.” consistent in how they approach is built around the idea of not Thechoiceofalawyer is an importantdecisionand should not White House officials insist national security,” said Benja- doing stupid stuff.” be basedsolelyuponadvertisement