MoveOn calls on Obama not to escalate in Afghanistan

By Steve Hynd

Here's a significant move in the political manouverings behind Obama's coming decision on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan. In an email to its members, the big dog of the progressive movement, MoveOn, has said:

Can you write to the White House and tell them we need a clear exit strategy�not tens of thousands more US troops stuck in a quagmire?

...Some administration officials are arguing for a smaller, nimbler approach with a narrow focus on the threat from al-Qaeda. But cheerleaders for the war refuse to acknowledge that there could be any viable strategy other than more and more troops. So they�re trotting out the same tired old lines and questioning the motives of those who disagree with them.

They figure they can cut off any debate about our ultimate goals in Afghanistan and the region. But President Obama has consistently shown a willingness to stand up for his more thoughtful approach to foreign policy, and that�s what he needs to do here, too.

The hawks are making their position heard. Now, the majority of Americans�those of us who are for as quick and as responsible an end to the war as possible�need to make our voices heard, too.

Can you write to the President now?

Greg Sargent writes:

The move means the left will no longer grant Obama room to maneuver on Afghanistan, and will insist that he stand up to the hawks and even to his own commanders, escalating the confrontation over the way foward.

And Robert Naiman chips in that this is a "huge deal" because:

1) this is a clear signal to Democrats in Congress who don't support escalation that now is the time to say so publicly, in particular, by calling for an "exit strategy" and 2) this is a clear signal to the political people in the White House that they have public backing for resisting the Pentagon/neocon pressure demanding military escalation and more troops.

Indeed. There are two bipartisan consensuses on Afghanistan, one made up of realist conservatives and the broad "left", the other of interventionist neoliberals and neocon warmongers. The latter have had the best of the White House's attention so far, but that appears to be changing.