RNC Boss Michael Steele Rips Afghan War

by John M. Curtis
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Copyright July 5, 2010
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         Going over the deep-end, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele antagonized fellow Republicans pinning the Afghanistan War on President Barack Obama.  Started Oct. 26, 2001 as Operation Enduring Freedom by former President George W. Bush, Steele called Afghanistan a “war of Obama’s choosing,” implying that the 48-year-old president escalated the war at his own political peril.  Obama added 21,000 troops March 28, 2009 only a few weeks after taking office and then added 30,000 more Dec. 2, 2009 at the request of former Iraq Commander Stanley McChrystal. McChrystal resigned in disgrace June 21 after acting like a loose cannon, airing critical remarks about the White House in Rolling Stone Magazine.  After approving Centcom Commander Gen. David Petraeus to replace MeChrystal June 30, Steele showed tone deafness to the GOP. 

              Operation Enduring Freedom was Bush’s crowning achievement before the fateful March 20, 2003 decision to go to Iraq. In a little more than three weeks, U.S. forces toppled the radical Taliban regime, driving the Islamic movement into its current guerrilla war.  Petraeus recently affirmed that U.S. forces are in it for the long run, committed to defeat the Taliban.  Operation Enduring Freedom worked well until it allowed Osama bin Laden and the one-eyed Taliban chief Mullah Mohammed Omar to escape Dec 12, 2001 in the Battle of Tora Bora.  U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) ripped Steele for his Afghan remarks.  “I think those statements are wildly inaccurate and there’s no excuse for them,” said McCain, a big supporter during his presidential bid of Afghanistan.

            McCain’s objection to Steele’s remarks stems from his stated objections to the Iraq War that diverted resources from Afghanistan.  While McCain eventually supported the so-called troop surge in Iraq conducted by Petraeus, he felt Iraq was a wasteful detour away from the real war on terror in Afghanistan.  Years of neglect by the U.S. military, left Afghanistan in its current chaos, where a positive outcome is not guaranteed.  “I believe we have to win here.  I believe in freedom.  But the fact is that I think Mr. Steele is going to have to assess whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee and make appropriate decisions,” McCain told ABC’s “This Week,” practically asking Steele to resign.  McCain reacted to Steele’s implication that the Afghan War is hopeless.  Believing it’s Obama’s liability, Steele sought to score cheap political points.

            Steele’s had his share of controversies since taking over as RNC chairman Jan. 30, 2009, getting into a power struggle with conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.  When Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told CBS’s “Face the Nation” March 1, 2009 that Rush was the real head of the GOP, Steele couldn’t contain his ire. Steele more-or-less called Limbaugh an “entertainer,” not the head of the GOP.  Steele had to eventually apologize tot Rush, no matter how true his remarks.  His recent comments about the Afghan War, especially tying its failure to the Obama legacy, rubbed Party bosses the wrong way because they know the fragile situation.  Graham said he was “dismayed, angry and upset.  It was an uninformed, unnecessary, unwise and untimely comment,” because it’s one of the GOP’s leading political causes generating future Party hope.

            Steele’s open slap of the Afghan War raises disturbing questions about an uncertain outcome.  While Petraeus shows optimism in his new assignment, the war has many critics, including former GOP presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) who said that Steele is right.  “He’s absolutely right—Afghanistan is now Obama’s war,” said Paul, also believing that the Karazi government is too corrupt to be saved.  Paul sees an endless guerrilla war, where there’s little chance of implementing an effective central government.  Paul also sees Afghan President’s deep ties to the Taliban and opium trade as troubling.  Bush’s past support and Obama’s renewed commitment to Karzai opens up a can of worms.  “This is not Obama’s war.  This is America’s war.  We need to stand behind the president,” said Graham on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Calling Steele’s remarks irresponsible.

            Steele defended himself on Fox News Monday, pointing out that, with all the U.S. sacrifices, the outcome was far from certain.  “If he’s such a student of history, has he not understood that you know that’s the one thing you don’t do, is engage in a land war in Afghanistan?” said Steele questioning the continued mission that no longer goes after the perpetrators of Sept. 11.  Steele, a savvy GOP strategist, knows there’s a lot of opposition to the war, especially among independents and cross over Republicans, those same voters heading to the polls this November.  McCain and Graham are still fighting Bush’s wars, where Steele sees the political pitfalls in supporting a losing operation.  “Hamid Karzai has stolen the election,” said former President Jimmy Carter Sept 15, 2009.  With Karzai’s antics, his close ties to the Taliban and opium trade, is Steele really that off-the-wall?

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.