Tom Coburn: 'Best Way' To Get Out Of Afghanistan Is To 'Grow Our Economy, Change The Regulations'

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) isn't quite sure how much longer the United States will be fighting in Afghanistan, although he does have an idea about how the country could withdraw -- by reducing the number of government regulations.

"If in fact we were energy independent, if in fact we had our economy going again, our foreign policy would be different than what it is today. The best way to get us out of Afghanistan is to grow our economy, change the regulations, have a vibrant, growing America where people are afraid to come against us," Coburn told about 350 attendees at his town hall meeting at Oklahoma City Community College on Thursday.

"It is not an easy answer. You should be frustrated. I am frustrated. But I'm not ready to say I know enough that now's the time to get out, given the other complications -- 200 nuclear weapons in Pakistan."

Much of the discussion at Coburn's town hall meeting centered around energy issues. They discussed federal regulations -- such as fuel efficiency standards -- put in place by "idiot bureaucrats" at the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies, and the need for energy independence to decrease reliance on countries in the Middle East.

Coburn is a vocal opponent of the Clean Air Act, voting to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

It's not entirely clear how fewer regulations would get the United States out of Afghanistan. Coburn's office did not return a request for comment.

The senator has gained a reputation as a fiscal hawk, often calling for spending cuts that few other lawmakers are willing to consider.

On Thursday, he acknowledged the high cost of the war, in terms of both money and human lives.

"We went into Afghanistan to clean out a group of people that killed over 3,000 Americans, and we paid a big price for that," he said. "Our young people paid a big price. Our military has paid a big price. ... We borrowed the money, which is unfair to both the troops that are there, and their children who are going to have to pay for it in the future."

Coburn's discussion of Afghanistan came in response to a man who stood up and asked, "I wanted to ask you a question about a topic that I think, in my opinion, is not talked about enough, and that's the war in Afghanistan. After 10 years of war, after thousands of lives killed or wounded, how much longer are we going to be in Afghanistan? And what's the exit strategy?"

The audience applauded his question.

WATCH (via Fastfwd01):

Comments

[greysells2]

08:51 PM on 09/03/2011

Here's another suggestion Sen. Coburn. You go over and stay and send the troops back home.

[nana4g]

08:54 AM on 08/22/2011

The answer to all of his questions lies with the former Administration. He should be asking them why they could not have concluded the warfare in Afghanistan in 6 to 8 years. Perhaps, that little incursion into Iraq has something to do with it....He cannot re-write those facts. Anyone who took over the Administration would have had to do the mopping up and not just turn around and come come home. Coburn would have had plenty to say about that strategy, too. The only reason Republicans are suddenly anti war is because it is President Obama trying to clean it up and end them responsibly. Whatever he does, they're against. That does not instill any kind of credibility on any issue, for me. They are opportunists and extortionists. I hate those wars; I want them "over". I doubt very much this President, who doesn't "war" with these loudmouths at home is reaping any personal...or professional...benefits from the fact that we are still there.

[pb31]

12:00 AM on 08/22/2011

Eliminating the EPA and allowing industries to pour more carcinogens into the air will get us out of Afganistan just how? I guess Tom hasn't quite figured that out yet.

[JoePenn]

10:48 PM on 08/21/2011

Pastor Tom is an idiot, proven every time he opens his yap, or brokers a deal for a fellow right-wing Jesus freak to pay off his mistress (and her husband).

[Mafdet]

08:51 PM on 08/21/2011

Isn't this guy's specialty covering up taxpayer-funded affairs that people like Ensign engage in? Shouldn't he hold down that C-Street flop house where the Party's righteous go to "read scriptures" as it were?

[Forrester1]

07:44 PM on 08/21/2011

"Coburn is a vocal opponent of the Clean Air Act, voting to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming."

Whew, for a minute I thought he was talking about the emissions that caused city wide brown-outs and acid rain.

[Twin420]

07:24 PM on 08/21/2011

Coburn's ego requires attention. If he feels that he isn't getting enough, his pysche screams for him to make a stupid, Wing Nut remark to get some. He's so predictable.

[Bacchus65]

06:55 PM on 08/21/2011

He should just stick with doing his crossword puzzles, while senate is in session.

[usma84]

06:53 PM on 08/21/2011

Another right wing extremist meandering around trying to sell the idea that tax cuts and eliminating all consumer and environmental protections (those are the regulations they're talking about) along with austerity measures will suddenly cause America to magically grow elves or something.

Ronald Reagan raised taxes 7 times, and deficit spent his way out of recession.

Start there right wing extremists, start with Ronald Reagan.

Nah, they can't even comprehend even that bit of history either.

[Twin420]

05:23 PM on 08/21/2011

If Tom had his wishes, everywhere would be just like Oklahoma, where it's been over 100 degrees for 50 days!
The weathers better in Afghanistan!

[itzfatcat]

04:22 PM on 08/21/2011

I agree it is time to get out. We are waisting people and money in this place for a group of people who don' t want us there.

[RPDash]

03:11 PM on 08/21/2011

Senator Coburn, talk is cheap...

Salary of retired US Presidents ............$180,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of House/Senate .......................$174,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of Speaker of the House ............$223,500 FOR LIFE
Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders ...... $193,400 FOR LIFE
Average Salary of a teacher ................ $40,065
Average Salary of Soldier DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN $38,000

[missmanners]

07:14 AM on 08/22/2011

I wish I could have voted the amount of my salary and retirement that the company was not able to change.

[The Lone Stranger]

11:44 AM on 08/21/2011

It sounds so innocuous when the Senator argues that we need to eliminate regulations, but what he is talking about is increasing the levels of dangerous toxic pollution that we all breath so that some fat cats can make more money while the rest of us suffer.

The idea that this is in anyway related to our foreign wars is utterly ludicrous.

[nana4g]

08:56 AM on 08/22/2011

All it has done in Texas is make us sick.

[spkninglsh]

11:25 AM on 08/21/2011

Good thing he can't carry a brain on the Senate floor.

[wolf58]

08:15 AM on 08/21/2011

I know first hand of what goes on in both Afghanistan and Iraq having two kids currently both countries and with three kids with a total of five combat tours along with scores of friends having done the same. Its called FUBAR. Both have been a waste of fine young Americans and trillions of dollars. Iraq should have never been that was GW's desire for payback, oil and to be the conquering war president and the only way to do so was to allow warlords to try capture Bin Laden at Tora Bora instead of using the 101st that had him surrounded. Pack up and get out of both now let the cards fall as they may for those countries. It's really is not that hard

[Counter Sniper]

10:03 PM on 08/21/2011

I appreciate your comments but having kids in service doesn't give you "first hand" anything, it gives you second hand info at best.

While I would love for all of our troops to come home I realize thru "first hand" experience as a Disabled Infantry Combat Veteran that the President and the powers that be have access to a lot of classified material that the average citizen has no need to know and frankly couldn't deal with or handle.

It easy to back seat drive but Obama has thus far shown himself to be more than capable at handling foreign policy and keeping us safe. I wish I could tell you why we haven't left Afghanistan yet but I like my freedom and I don't want to risk American lives just to score points in a comment forum.

The American people need to keep their focus on RepublicanTreason and their attempts to destroy our country just so they can blame Obama and get back into the White House.

[Paul Cross]

11:46 PM on 08/21/2011

Counter Sniper - I am also one of those people who think we need to get out these wars now for moral & financial reasons. I base my decisions on what I am spoon fed in the media and I read a lot for understanding. But I also respect your first hand knowledge so its frustrating that people like me will never have access to the reason you speak of... I am also glad to see you have confidence in the current President. That gives me hope....