Jon Huntsman On Afghanistan: 'I Want To Get Out Fast'

WASHINGTON -- Jon Huntsman wants U.S. forces out of Afghanistan "fast," he said in an interview aired on National Public Radio Monday morning, when asked what the difference is between his approach and that of President Obama's.

"He's listening to the generals on the ground and he's taking a go-slow approach," Huntsman said. "I want to get out fast."

Though the U.S. military is, according to the Constitution, under civilian control, Republican presidential candidates, with the exception of Ron Paul, have generally urged deference to the commanders on the ground. Huntsman's willingness to override their cautious advice sets him apart from the field. (As does appearing this morning on NPR, a station that has been a target of Republican attacks the past year.)

"It's time to get out," Huntsman said, noting that the Taliban have been expelled from power and that Osama bin Laden has been killed.

While large majorities of Americans want troops out of both Afghanistan and Iraq, the GOP's presidential candidates have taken a more hawkish approach.

At a debate over the weekend, Texas Gov. Rick Perry suggested sending troops back to Iraq.

"I would send troops back into Iraq," he said. "I think we start talking with the Iraqi individuals there. The idea that we allow the Iranians to come back into Iraq and take over that country, with all of the treasure, both in blood and money, that we have spent in Iraq -- because this president wants to kowtow to his liberal leftist base, and move out those men and women. He could have renegotiated that time frame. I think it is a huge error for us."

Earlier on HuffPost:

 

 

Comments

[Richard Mayne]

10:57 PM on 01/09/2012

Out of the republican field Huntsman is the standout choice - I just can't get over the Mormon part... Still he is the one candidate with a solid record and a degree of intelligence - it would be refreshing to see him take on a middle ground position going forward to capture the nomination. The far right are going to vote regardless of who is selected - so Romney, Santorum, Hunstman, Newt - they have no choice.... America however does and their is no way someone like Santorum will standup to the public scrutiny of a Presidential election. The two mormons are probably the best shot to take on Obama but its hard to see him lose in November

[TomTheSeal]

04:25 PM on 01/09/2012

Dont get out fast; get out NOW !

If you can not get the job done in ten years, then you can't get the job done.

Afghanistan is nothing more than a military-industrial-complex fleecing of the American people.

[Totto]

04:08 PM on 01/09/2012

Jon Huntsman: A GOP wolf in a simple cloth coat.

[Billy Jack]

04:01 PM on 01/09/2012

"I want to get out fast". Careful, we don't want pre-mature withdrawl

[Totto]

03:56 PM on 01/09/2012

Paul Ryan's Medicare Plan. Really, Jon Huntsman?

[Viper]

03:43 PM on 01/09/2012

Yet his withdrawl schedule he gave during the debate was longer than Obama's

[jbmorgen1]

03:34 PM on 01/09/2012

Jon Huntsman could take away a lot Democratic votes from President Obama, if Jon Huntsman gets the Republican Presidential nomination. Huntsman is the only opposition candidate that could defeat the president, however, since Huntsman's party has been hijacked by the Tea Baggers, which makes quite doubtful that Huntsman will ever get the nomination. A major win for President Obama, although I think the president will get reelected in the Election 2012, because the GOP/Tea Baggers have failed to produced any means that would help Main Street to obtain jobs and get out from this Second Depression....

[Bezweifeln]

09:21 PM on 01/09/2012

He's a Mormon like Romney. I don't see Republicans voting for a Mormon. He also supports the Paul Ryan bill and Keystone oil's pipeline. I agree that he appears to be a smart individual but there are policy differences that would help Obama IMO

[jbmorgen1]

10:35 PM on 01/09/2012

Nothing is in concrete in the United States, for example, people voted for JFK and he was a RC, which many times it was said that no RC would ever be elected for the presidency. There's a first for everything, and President Obama is another example.

[marignymitch]

03:16 PM on 01/09/2012

Huntsman lacks the insanity and war-mongering bona fides of a successful GOP candidate. He hasn't a prayer.

[RoofinReality]

03:23 PM on 01/09/2012

Huntsman is too sane and smart.
Fanned.

[JayMonaco]

03:37 PM on 01/09/2012

I think his game is all about 2016, and he and his people are banking on the insanity and war-mongering dying down.

[woundedduck]

03:10 PM on 01/09/2012

Uh oh. Huntsman is sizing up to be a spoiler for Obama. Better get left, mr. prez, in a hurry.

[RagMag]

03:08 PM on 01/09/2012

...unless Obama wants to pull out, then I want the US to go back in.

[treadway123]

03:02 PM on 01/09/2012

Perry don't understand when the leaders of Iraq tell ya it is time to get out an go home, ya get out an go home! I am glad to hear Huntsman has a good view of getting out of Afganastan. He does know his foreign policy!

[Aaron Putnam]

02:53 PM on 01/09/2012

If the GOP figures out that Americans like this guy and his ideas they might just accidentally win the real election in November...He's the only one that has a chance against Obama. Personally, i would vote for him over a 2nd term from the biggest let down of my lifetime (Obama)...and I was all aboard the Hope and Change express in 2008.

[Viper]

03:44 PM on 01/09/2012

So your for the RYAN Budget and not pro choice and his withdrawl schedule is longer than Obama's and he would undo all finanical reform and Obamacare?

regards

[wildwmmn]

02:52 PM on 01/09/2012

Huntsman is sane. That separates him from the rest of the pack. When asked a question he answers it with : Obama wants to do it this way, (as he describes Obama's position) and I want to do it this way: (as he describes his position). How refreshing.

All of the other candidates deflect the true intent of a question by answering how Obama wants to destroy our liberties (without giving any examples to back up the statement) or how Obama is putting our national security at 'grave' risk (without siting one example how), or how Obama's a "socialist" and wants a redistribution of wealth, yada yada yada - and never once answering what they would like to do and HOW they intend to do it.

[sindurrella]

04:22 PM on 01/09/2012

Precicely. the GOP-bots are told what poll tested statements they're supposed to make in response to possible election topics. Their corporate masters and trainers haven't told them what they're supposed to actually do if they should get elected....Sort of like what happened to Gov. Scott Walker - he didn't know he was supposed to kill the unions until he got into office and got the memo from the Koch brothers.....

[Deoppressoliber]

02:12 AM on 01/10/2012

Dems are the exact same, they just get their memos from Soros.

[Eye2amAmerican]

02:48 PM on 01/09/2012

"Though the U.S. military is, according to the Constitution, under civilian control".......Ryan are you really this dumb or just plain lazy......

The U.S. is under miliatry control......it has the largest budget.....in fact the us military budget is larger than all of the other world militaries budgets' combined.....combined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congress is investigating a 500 million dollar department of energy loan.....MEANWHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WASTES billions of dollars a year just in iraq and afghanistan...and no congressional investigation....?!!!...

[Deoppressoliber]

02:13 AM on 01/10/2012

Support the troops! Hoo-ah! Get with it, Commie!

[4httr]

02:46 PM on 01/09/2012

Neo -con alert ! Time for the military industrial complex and John McCain to come out swinging at Huntsman for such an unwarlike stance.