• "We should be in Afghanistan to win, not to set a
timetable for withdrawal", Sarah Palin's words clearly reflect
her support of President Obama's decision but at the same time
signals her frustration with the latter's hesitation in adopting
a surge strategy in the country.
 
• Palin is positive about winning in Afghanistan by
motivating, training and empowering the Afghan forces to 'build a
stable representative state able to defend itself.'
 
• She said that the United States should do everything
possible to turn the responsibility over to the Afghan government
so that the people can live there in peace without the
interference of America. This should be the 'ultimate goal' of
the US on Afghan soil.
 
• Palin reminds that the September 11 attacks were planned
in Afghanistan. Not making the US power felt in the country will
encourage Al Qaeda and the Taliban to impose their cruelty on the
people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
 
• America needs to be fully prepared to win, according to
Palin. She says that the whole world is watching the US, ready to
point a finger if America is not able to protect their interests
in Afghanistan.
 
• Palin was deeply disturbed by Obama's alleged comment
that troops in Afghanistan were "air raiding villages and killing
civilians."
		

• Mike Huckabee has expressed his full support for the war
in Afghanistan and is also of the impression that the "war should
not be judged while the United States is in the midst of it."
 
• Huckabee agrees that the Al Qaeda is a threatening
cancer diagnosed in Afghanistan but drives home the theory that
one does not deal with cancer by "pretending it doesn't exist."
 
• He is all praise for President Obama's wise decisions
regarding the war on terror in Afghanistan and feels everyone
should extend their 'non-partisan' support to the President as he
aims to finish America's international involvement in the
eight-year Afghanistan war.
 
• However, he has expressed his displeasure in withdrawing
the American troops from America in July 2011. Huckabee has
brushed aside this timetable as 'a huge mistake' and is not too
optimistic that President Obama will be able to stick to his time
line, without running the risk of ultimately abandoning it.
 
• Huckabee has reasons for his opposition of a public
timetable and justifies it with the simple theory that the
Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Afghan locals will perceive this
mention of a specific date as evidence that the American troops
will, most certainly, leave the country within the first few days
of July 2011. This step alone, Huckabee feels, is a wrong message
that will demoralize the Afghan and Pakistani armed forces and
make the countries more unstable.
 
• According to Huckabee, the Afghanistan government has
been highly disappointing and clearly stated that the US cannot
withdraw.
 
• Huckabee continues to insist his viewpoint that
neighboring countries should extend their support, both
militarily and financially.