Long the more hawkish US political party, the Republicans are increasingly hesitant about a lengthy commitment in Afghanistan as they court a war-weary public in next year’s presidential race.
Nearly all of the candidates seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama supported his tripling of troops in Afghanistan, but for some the tone has become markedly less enthusiastic.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, considered an early front-runner for the nomination, said at the first candidate debate on Monday: “It’s time for us to bring our troops home as soon as we possibly can.”
“Only the Afghanis can win Afghanistan’s independence from the Taliban,” Romney said. But consistent with previous Republican positions, Romney said a withdrawal must be “based upon the conditions on the ground determined by the generals” and not domestic politics or costs.
Jon Huntsman, the former US ambassador to China who plans to announce his candidacy next week, appeared to support a quicker withdrawal from Afghanistan amid voter concerns about the domestic economy and deficit.
Asked by CNN if Obama’s plan to maintain troops until 2014 was tenable, Huntsman said: “I would argue you can if you’re willing to pay another quarter of a trillion dollars to do so.”
“But if it isn’t in our direct national security interest and if there isn’t a logical exit strategy and if we don’t know what the cost is going to be in terms of money and human lives, then I think you have to say it’s probably time we re-evaluate this,” the former Utah governor said.
