John Kerry's position on

Afghanistan: The Al Quada terrorist network claimed responsibility for the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Bush Administration immediately vowed to hold the terrorist groups, and nations supporting them, responsible. Less than a week after the 9/11 attacks President Bush outlined his plans for retaliation to Congress. On October 7, less than one month after 9/11, American forces began an invasion of Afghanistan with three goals in mind: "to capture or kill top Al Qaeda leaders, destory the terrorist infrastructure within Afghanistan, and remove the Taliban from power" (Daalder 123). US Military forces still occupy Afghanistan. Al Queda leader Osama Bin Laden has not been captured. Afghanistan's first democratic election was held last week.

Description of the Candidate's Position: Kerry claims that Afghanistan has been forgotten in the War on Terror. Kerry clarified his support for the war in Afghanistan at the October 8th Debate, "the right war was Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan. That was the right place. And the right time was Tora Bora, when we had him cornered in the mountains." (link) Furthermore, "Afghanistan is now at a pivotal moment: it could move steadily toward stability and moderation and become a burgeoning democracy -or it could slide back into the anarchy, warlordism and civil strife of the past. America's vital national interest requires us to finish the job we started in Afghanistan and prevent a return to the conditions that allowed al Qaeda to take root." (Kerry website)

Quotation from the Candidate: Kerry and Edwards will "ensure that Afghanistan receives the security, political and economic resources it needs. They will: Expand NATO beyond Kabul and accelerate the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force and commit to an expansion of troops beyond the election period, stop the drug trade, expedite the warlord disarmament and improve security training." (Kerry website)

Assesment of the Proposal:

Positive: Kerry proposal vows to remain helpful in Afghanistan even after the elections are completed. He also believes that Afghanistan safety is dependent upon training the Afghan Army Guard and police programs.

Negative: CURRENTLY BEING RESEARCHED

Comparison: Bush's website does not outline his specific plans for completing the war in Afghanistan. Overall, Bush advocates a preemptive war doctrine that attacks threats abroad before they become threats in the homeland. Bush will continue to hunt Bin Laden.

Link to Bush's Afghanistan page

Sources

Daalder, Ivo H and James M. Lindsay. America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign

Policy. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2003.