Sen. Bob Menendez harshly questions President Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan

[Mass]

Happy to see somebody ask the hard questions.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/national/Sen_Bob_Menendez_harshly_questioned_President_Obamas_strategy_for_Afghanistan_this_morning.html

Sen. Bob Menendez harshly questions President Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan
Thursday, December 3, 2009
BY HERB JACKSON
The Record

Sen. Bob Menendez harshly questioned President Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan this morning, interrupting Secretary of State Hillary of Clinton during a hearing and calling the promise to begin withdrawing troops in July 2011 “as solid as quicksand.”

Menendez challenged the Obama administration’s top military and diplomatic advisers at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one of several being held since Obama announced a 30,000-troop escalation Tuesday night.

Menendez opened by arguing his point that the problems that have grown in Afghanistan are the result of the nation’s “adventure in Iraq,” which he voted against. He then asked about the troop withdrawal date
...
Menendez said the administration would be asking for a major financial commitment from the United States, and, “I hope I can be convinced before that vote comes.”

After Menendez’s time for questioning ended, Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., asked Clinton if she wanted to try to convince Menendez. She said she’d bring reinforcements before trying again.

Added: I see some people do not like the idea that Congress does its job, but I do. I wished they had done it during the previous 8 years.

[slipslidingaway]

1. Thanks - knr also...

hope you are doing well.

:)

[Mass]

13. Thanks.

I am seeing the doctor monday. He will decide what treatment.

[slipslidingaway]

20. Then...

my best wishes on Monday!

[politicasista]

22. Hope not serious

I am more of a lurker than poster these days, but wish you the best. :hi:

[Clio the Leo]

2. He was not asking a question.....

.... he was attempting to bait the Secy of State. I saw it live and it is the VERY thing I despise about these hearings. He wasn't looking for information, he had an agenda and was using his "question" as a chance to pronounce it to the world.

Hillary, being a far more intelligent politician than Sen Menendez was having no part of it. She laughed coyly and said, "well, I cant give you the asnwer you're wanting and it be an accurate assesment of the situation."

[Mass]

6. It is a very valid question, and, even if I understand it is difficult to answer, it should be asked

The fact they had no answer is a pretty good sign that it is a long term commitment that is being made here. You could see that NO democrats (among those I saw at least) were happy about this. Even Kerry, who supports the plan, had questions and doubts about sending more troops.

[Clio the Leo]

21. It wasn't a question...

he said, "Is that not right!?" .... meaning he had already answered the question in his own mind and wanted her to go on record agreeing with him.

Again, Hillary wasn't falling for it.

I gont like with when the GOP does it and I dont like it when we do it.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Grandstanding except for when it really counts, doesn't count at all.

Where were these brave souls when Bush was doing what in the fuck he wanted to?

[brentspeak]

5. Why does an Afghanistan war suck-up have a Ted Kennedy avatar?

[Mass]

8. Menendez was there, again and again.

He was one of the first 13 votes at the first amendment for a withdrawal of the troops in Irak. They were only 13.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00181

[FrenchieCat]

14. Well then, I'm wrong.

Sen. Menendez is perfect.

[Mass]

16. Nobody is perfect. But it is good they are asking the hard questions.

We should not want to have a Senate and Congress like the Bush congress. This country does not need lapdogs.

[karynnj]

19. No he is not perfect

He voted for the torture bill and he held up appointees because he was angry about the Cuba policy.

But he did speak up against Bush and he is a decent member of a committee with a history of asking tough questions. (Lugar even had two hearings on the politics of oil. Hagel, who was on the committee spoke out often against Bush.)

[karynnj]

12. Manendez voted for Kerry/Feingold even though he was up for re-election

One of only 13 and I believe the only one in a highly contested race. I live in NJ and that was a gutsy move in summer 2006. Kean Jr actually tried to use it in one NJ show by saying that he agreed with the position Bill Clinton supported and it was noted that "even" HRC said it was cut and run. This was when Obama followed the safe course of siding with Hillary and others and voted against it.

This is a question he had every right to ask - just as the Republicans have tried to get assurances that it is NOT firm. This is a question that all three of them should have been prepared to answer - as it was obviously going to be asked. Hillary's answer sounded like she was either flustered or angered - she paused between each word speaking abnormally slowly for her. It is possible that she was trying to eat his time up without saying more than she had to. (A more negative interpretation was she was speaking down to him ) The SFRC have been doing their job and they had hearings on Afghanistan this fall - even though the WH would not let their people testify there. (I know this because Lugar said so in his statement in one of them) The fact is this is only the third time HRC has spoken to them and the first (I think) for the other two this year. They should have gotten questions.

Menendez is my senator and there have been times I have been unhappy with him - like when he held up environmental appointments over the Cuba policy or when he voted for the torture bill, but he was never one to not speak up.

[karynnj]

4. Many of the Democrats asked good questions

at that hearing. It was tougher for the Obama team than the Armed Services one I heard yesterday.

Kerry asked the question of why AQ in Pakistan meant 100,000 troops were needed in Afghanistan. (Gates gave an answer on the terrorist groups between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Hillary - we have come to see the groups as a syndicate of terrorism. Level of funding and equipting has grown exponentially. Says AQ is the head of this (ref to Mafia godfather). Says that have access to funding, international recruiting, and sending terrorists abroad. Said Taliban are their brick layers. Then mentioned Pakistan nukes. Says there is a gap between Pakistani military and us - struggle for influence. (I am glad we elected Obama!)

Mullen - spoke of the dangers to Pakistan. Without addressing this the risk of another(911)likely. Many areas of the world
need to be addressed, but this the most. )

Boxer and Feingold were excellent as well.

Here is a link - http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/20091203 (They are redoing their website. To get the video look on the map near Central America for the words "recorded hearing".

[Cha]

9. Thanks for this, karyn.

[Mass]

11. Thanks Karyn

[PBS Poll-435]

7. Menendez is the Chair of the DSCC This Cycle n/t

[vaberella]

10. Your last statement is why I don't waste my time too much with them now. n/t

[karynnj]

15. This committee really did question Bush administration people

I only watched after 2004, but the then middle of the Democratic line up was always very very good - Kerry, Feingold, Boxer. One thing that was really good was that if Kerry was able to make a dent with an issue, he could count on those two to use some of their time to further the issue.

In addition, I would assume that some of the information and ideas of the 5 Afghanistan hearings made some impact on Obama's plan.

[Mass]

17. If I am not mistaken, the same people who were questioning the Bush administration are

questioning the Obama administration. They clearly trust Obama more than Bush, but they are asking the hard questions, as they should.

[zulchzulu]

18. Obama gave a withdrawal date. Menendez is whining about the fact he gave one?

WTF?

:shrug:

Menendez said "Obama’s plan was “putting a lot of eggs in President Karzai." That's bullshit. Obama is going to use an outside appointee to oversee the operation. Obama doesn't trust Karzai.

I bet Menendez wants a timeline to leave by 2011 and would not work that much with Karzai. Oh wait, THAT'S OBAMA'S PLAN!