MODERATOR: "Do you think we should withdraw? [from Afghanistan]"
COAKLEY: "I think we should plan an exit strategy yes."
MODERATOR: "And how would we succeed."
MODERATOR: "I am not sure there is a way to succeed. If the goal was and the vision in Afghanistan was to go in because we believe the Taliban was giving harbor to terrorists, we supported them, I supported that goal. They are gone, They are not there anymore, they are in Yemen and Pakistan. Lets focus our efforts on where Al Qaeda is." (Massachusetts Senate Debate, 1/11/10)
President Obama Says That Afghanistan Is A Huge Threat, And Worth Fighting:
Obama: "I Want To Speak To You Tonight About Our Effort In Afghanistan ... And The Strategy That My Administration Will Pursue To Bring This War To A Successful Conclusion ... We Must Come Together To End This War Successfully. For What's At Stake Is Not Simply A Test Of NATO's Credibility - What's At Stake Is The Security Of Our Allies, And The Common Security Of Their World." (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President In Address To The Nation On The Way Forward In Afghanistan And Pakistan, West Point, NY, 12/1/09)
Obama: "If I Did Not Think That The Security Of The United States And The Safety Of The American People Were At Stake In Afghanistan, I Would Gladly Order Every Single One Of Our Troops Home Tomorrow." (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President To The Nation On The Way Forward In Afghanistan And Pakistan, Eisenhower Hall Theatre United States Military Academy At West Point West Point, New York, 12/1/09)
Obama: "I Make This Decision Because I Am Convinced That Our Security Is At Stake In Afghanistan And Pakistan. This Is The Epicenter Of Violent Extremism Practiced By Al Qaeda. . . . This Is No Idle Danger; No Hypothetical Threat." (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President To The Nation On The Way Forward In Afghanistan And Pakistan, Eisenhower Hall Theatre United States Military Academy At West Point West Point, New York, 12/1/09)
