Jon Huntsman On Afghanistan: We've Got To Bring Our Troops Home

During Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman suggested it's time the country bring the remaining United States troops stationed in Afghanistan home.

"I think we've lost our confidence as a country," he explained. "I think we have had our innocence shattered. I think, ten years later, we look at the situation and we say, we have 100,000 troops in Afghanistan. This is not about nation-building in Afghanistan. This is about nation-building at home."

The GOP presidential contender continued, "Our core is broken. We are weak. We have got to strengthen ourselves. I say we've got to bring those troops home."

The remarks from Huntsman came in response to a question on whether he believes the country is safer today as a result of the nation's counter-terrorism efforts in a post-9/11 era. Looking ahead to the ten year anniversary of the tragic day he said, "I think one way to commemorate our ten-year anniversary of 9/11, remembering the 3,000-plus people who died in New York and in Pennsylvania and in Washington, is to say it's time for this country to set a goal for ourselves: We're going to get our core fixed. We're going to do some nation-building right here at home."

It's not the first time the former governor has raised doubt over the country's ongoing military presence in Afghanistan. HuffPost's Amanda Terkel reported on what the Republican hopeful had to say on the issue during an interview that aired on ABC's "Good Morning America" in May:

On Afghanistan, Huntsman did not specify an exact withdrawal date, although he expressed skepticism that having 100,000 U.S. troops on the ground there was the best decision.

"I would tell you that we have to evaluate very carefully our presence in Afghanistan," he said. "And my inclination would be to say that it is a heavy and very expensive presence we have on the ground. That at a point in time where we need to be looking at our asymmetrical threats, what we have in Afghanistan today is not consistent with how we ought to be responding."

The comments are similar to ones the former Utah governor made in New Hampshire on Thursday, when he called a drawdown of U.S. troops "inevitable."

During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" earlier this summer, Huntsman questioned President Barack Obama's timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan and said, "My hunch is the American people want to be out of there as quickly as we can get it done."

Below, a video of highlights from Wednesday night's debate.

WATCH:

 

 

Comments

[the964kid]

03:51 PM on 09/08/2011

Wait, this guy is running to become the republican nominee? He'd better get real about who votes in the republican party these days.

[The Contrary]

02:19 PM on 09/08/2011

Jon Huntsman is 1 of a few intelligent being left on the Republican party. Unfortunately, intelligent and sound judgement are not prerequisites for the Republican party and its supporters who are war-mongers, fear-mongers, religious fervors, super-and-mega wealthy Americans cuddlers among others.

The truth is that Jon Huntsman is a Mormon (LDS) and Repulican party supporters who are predominantly Christian fundamentalists won't support such a candidate. It is because Jon Huntsman is "not like one of us".

[tice]

12:24 PM on 09/08/2011

Republicans that I would consider: Huntsman, Ron Paul (he's nutty but his heart is in the right place)

Republicans I will never, ever, ever (ever) vote for: Bachmann, Palin, Gingrich, Perry, Cain

If you Reps have the nerve to pick on of the dinks from the second list, I will be voting for Obama. Right now, Huntsman is my fav.

-Independent

[Gestas]

12:16 PM on 09/08/2011

The Republicans can talk,talk and talk allot. But, until the voters forget Bush and Cheney talk is about all they have to offer.

[Ex-Fed]

11:05 AM on 09/08/2011

I'm a registered Republican who has voted for republican candidates maybe 4 times in the last 30 years, the party isn't the same one I supported 30 years ago...ever since Reagan defeated John Glen in the primaries in '79. Gary Johnson in NM was one of the last ones, he was the best Governor this state ever had. Right now I have to agree with Huntsman as well, it is time to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq, we also should close the majority of our overseas bases (unless the host country offers to pay all expenses) and eliminate the military/corporate welfare system that has evolved from the contracting out services to Haliburton/Blackwater/KBR and others. It cost's us MORE to contract out these services, the only benefit is to the corporations and the politicians who get campaign "donations" (bribes) from these companies. We the taxpayers are getting screwed royally.

[JustaSlob]

12:25 PM on 09/08/2011

(Sigh) Where the heck is Gary?

[soupson52]

12:43 PM on 09/08/2011

Thank you. Well stated. #16

[kenhamlett]

10:21 AM on 09/08/2011

I am a liberal Democrat who agrees completely with Mr. Huntsman about ending the war in Afghanistan. More and more people understand the futility of this war which is going nowhere. We are no longer even trying to win the war, and we certainly cannot afford its continuing cost. I realize the President campaigned in 2008 in support of the war. But, he also campaigned saying that he was the candidate with the best "judgment." He needs to use that judgment now -- with three years of experience in office -- to end this ongoing debacle.

[soupson52]

12:45 PM on 09/08/2011

I am with you, Ken! F&F'd.

[ladymcbeth45]

10:08 AM on 09/08/2011

If you listened to Bachman's response she is all about endless wars...she still believes we need to be the policeman of the world...esp. when the multinationals have interests there....

[Reilly Diefenbach]

09:58 AM on 09/08/2011

Hey, I'll vote for any carbon based life form to the left of Obama.

[seltzerwater464]

10:34 AM on 09/08/2011

I will vote for any cartoon based life form to the left of Obama. But yeah, I may have to reregister as a Republican. Not that Pennsyltucky makes a difference primary season-wise.

[Hank007]

09:36 AM on 09/08/2011

Wasn't he the original Dennis the Menace?

[charanto]

01:44 PM on 09/09/2011

The only menace in 2012 is Rick Perry. Even W. Bush look more intelligent.

[Hanniball666]

09:35 AM on 09/08/2011

Huntsman is way to rational for the Republican party. Honest, intelligent and a decent sense of humor. Something is wrong with him. Obama tried this and look where it got him. His line of thinking will never go over with the base. Without being able to brag about killing a bunch of people as governor he doesn't stand a chance. I could vote for him as an alternative to Obama though. Something about wanting to elect adults. My bad.

[pinkindie]

01:28 PM on 09/08/2011

He was the only sane candidate on the panel last night.

[demisfine]

09:33 AM on 09/08/2011

I heard a brief clip of a republican strategist claiming Perry clearly won the debate last night.
I'm a liberal democrat, and to me Huntsman was clearly the winner.
Could Perry's expectations have been so low that as long as he didn't drool on the podium he'd win?
Shameful.

[MilesToGo]

12:57 PM on 09/08/2011

I should come as no surprise that a Republican strategist would imagine Perry "won." There seems to truly be some kind of mental dysfunction affecting their party. My politics align with yours', and it seemed to me that Perry virtually de-railed. While Huntsman came off as the most reasonable and rational, even Romney came off better than Perry, who was ludicrous.

[demisfine]

05:01 PM on 09/08/2011

Thanks for the validation.
F & F'd

[jlg1952]

09:28 AM on 09/08/2011

No, congress has not allowed our soldiers fight to win in Afghanistan. War is war and there is no such thing as a civilized or humane war! Congress didn’t allow our soldiers a free hand to win in Vietnam. They are not letting our soldiers fight to win in Afganistan. While our men and women in uniform are fighting and dying congress plays politics. They care little for the lives of our young soldiers. They are considered expendable weapons. To pull out our soldiers now instead of utilizing the weapons we have spent trillions of tax payers’ money to develop to be used in war, but have not, our brave soldiers have died in vain is premeditated murder. The permanently handicapped or disfigured, crippled, lost limbs and lost eye sight is criminal and the same as attempted murder. The lives of families, including children that now must grow up without a father or mother, parents without children because congress would rather play political games! Congress is as much of an enemy as those we fight.

If congress was on the front battle line in Afghanistan the war would have been won in the first several weeks?

[dhinds]

04:07 PM on 09/08/2011

What exactly do you think can be won in Afghanistan and how do you measure it - in dead bodies?

The US occupation of other sovereign nations is exactly what creates terrorists.

[vietveter]

09:25 AM on 09/08/2011

ANYONE that says

''Bring the troops home''

is right . . . even a republicant

that sent them there

[StephJH]

09:07 AM on 09/08/2011

While I disagree with many of John Huntsman's ideas. I must say he is the only adult in the GOP room. The rest of them are blinded by ambition and the GOP's singular goal of defeating President Obama -- at any cost. How's that a vision for America.

[TN60]

03:04 PM on 09/08/2011

How about he is the only one in the room, who is not an idiot !

[The Right is Wrong]

08:55 AM on 09/08/2011

So Huntsman is for a stimulus package?