January 29, 2009
Posted: January 29th, 2009 05:36 PM ET
Sen. Lieberman ardently backed Sen. McCain for president but he spoke favorably about President Obama Thursday.
Sen. Lieberman ardently backed Sen. McCain for president but he spoke favorably about President Obama Thursday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Months after slamming then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's world view as "naive," Sen. Joe Lieberman reversed course in a critical foreign policy arena Thursday, praising the new administration's approach in Afghanistan.

The former Democratic vice presidential nominee from Connecticut told an audience at the Brookings Institution he is optimistic the United States can turn the tide in the former Taliban stronghold in part because "President Obama has made very clear that this is a war he intends to win and he has moved swiftly to take command of it."

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlined the administration's plans to deploy two additional brigades to Afghanistan by spring and a third by late summer, a total of about 15,000 more troops plus support staff.

The U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, has requested 30,000 additional troops and support staff to help wrestle away gains made by the Taliban over the past year. While not opposing McKiernan's request, Gates
indicated that more time will be required to build out the required infrastructure in Afghanistan to support additional troops.

Lieberman, widely viewed as having hawkish views in the war on terror, backed Obama's call to deploy additional forces to the region. He also said he
approves of the president's appointment of former Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"My advice to anyone who is hedging their bets in South Asia: the combination of Dick Holbrooke and (General) Dave Petraeus, led by Hillary Clinton and (Defense Secretary) Bob Gates, is not a team I would bet against," Lieberman said.

He said that, in addition to a troop surge, U.S. policy in Afghanistan also needs a surge in the "strategic coherence of our war effort," as well as greater diplomatic outreach and cooperation from Afghans themselves.

"The problem in Afghanistan today is not only that we have devoted too few resources, but that the resources we have devoted are being applied incoherently," he said.

Lieberman, a self-styled "Independent Democrat" since losing his party's 2006 Senate primary in Connecticut, previously argued that Obama was little more than an "eloquent young man" with a thin resume. He enraged other Democrats during the campaign by endorsing the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.

Filed under: Joe Lieberman • President Obama


DonnieJ   January 30th, 2009 5:32 am ET

Lieber-who?

weasel   January 29th, 2009 7:09 pm ET

Backstabbing little weasel.

yen   January 29th, 2009 7:09 pm ET

What does it matter what Joe Leib. says. He change his stand before the end of the day . He is not to be taken seriousely.

Xavier   January 29th, 2009 7:08 pm ET

Lieberman is a a relic that will soon be ousted from office come election time.

James   January 29th, 2009 7:08 pm ET

Lieberman = Flipflopper. Wake up Connecticut. It's time to put America's interest first, and not just blindly adopt Israel's policies as our own. Lieberman's judgment led us to the Iraq quagmire in the first place.

Peter   January 29th, 2009 7:05 pm ET

What a hypocrite

Grimm   January 29th, 2009 7:02 pm ET

...and if Obama's presidency ends up being lackluster, I'm sure Lieberman will be the first to cast a large stone.

Viet Vet   January 29th, 2009 7:01 pm ET

Listen to the wind blow

California Gold   January 29th, 2009 6:54 pm ET

Antenna up. Lieberman has surfaced. What does he want now.

Keith   January 29th, 2009 6:51 pm ET

Flip-Flopper strikes again.

Joey   January 29th, 2009 6:51 pm ET

What a putz. What a piece of trash. Complete traitor to the Democrats and he gets to keep his post. Obama is too kind to this dirtbag.

Gary   January 29th, 2009 6:50 pm ET

Did he say it out loud or did he whisper it in McCains ear?

D.Kimbro OHIO   January 29th, 2009 6:49 pm ET

OK is anyone else sick of this guy. Go away JOE.. Please

Simmy   January 29th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

A lot to be said about keeping enemies closer. Touche President Obama.

L.A. Woman   January 29th, 2009 6:45 pm ET

And we care what Lieberman thinks because???

kayla   January 29th, 2009 6:44 pm ET

WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU. WHO NEEDS ENEMY?

Get Real   January 29th, 2009 6:42 pm ET

Lieberman did this election what every person should do.

1. Endorse and vote for who you think is best for the job and not what party you belong to.
2. No matter who wins do what is good for the country.

It makes me sick to see the idiots of the U.S. slam him because of his independent thought. I wish more people in the U.S. would use common sense more often, then we would not be in a mess.

Allen iin Hartwell GA   January 29th, 2009 6:40 pm ET

It's about time for Lieberman to retire. He keeps forgetting who he is for and who he is against. His pants must be worn out from so much fence strattling. The state of Connecticut deserves better than this.

Nah - its the Kool-aid   January 29th, 2009 6:39 pm ET

No, no, no, you all have it wrong. It was the psychoactive hate drugs they were dispensing in the McCain campaign kool-aid. Powerful stuff.

Don't beleive me?

Look at McCain before and after the campaign: principled, respected, plays well with others. During the campign he was this angry old guy who spun like a weathervane depending on which way the political wind blew.

Similarly, Liebermann went from a respected congressman to a hypocritical back-stabbing GOP tool, and now, he's back to comprehending sense and able to distinguish right from wrong.

abc ~ anything but california hugh   January 29th, 2009 6:37 pm ET

Joe Liberman, is the ultimate democratic party traitor / flip-flopper! Way to go Weasel Joe, now go retire.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   January 29th, 2009 6:36 pm ET

Lieberman still hasn't learned he's still using Bush's word "win". There is nothing to win in the Middle East, it's way past time to get out.

1person = 1million names   January 29th, 2009 6:36 pm ET

i feel like even though there are a lot of comments its only one or two people making all of them.
even though I dislike lieberman I think I dislike commentators with multiple screen names even more.

Matt   January 29th, 2009 6:35 pm ET

Jowly McJowlyface strikes again!

alvino   January 29th, 2009 6:30 pm ET

Way to cover your butt, Joe.

The Bu   January 29th, 2009 6:30 pm ET

Who cares what Joe Lieberman thinks???? Oh, I know the answer...NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!! He needs to go back to Connecticut and find a nice little retirement home for himself.

Gerda Edwards   January 29th, 2009 6:30 pm ET

What posters are missing:
- He'd rather support the President to win a war, than fight against it and use that opposition as a campaign platform to win election.

Gerda Edwards   January 29th, 2009 6:28 pm ET

He's the only (kind of) Democrat who would rather fully support a President and win a war, than continually work against success in order to have a platform to win an election.

Joycelyn   January 29th, 2009 6:27 pm ET

WOW!!!!!

Happy Camper   January 29th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

Lierberman loves war. His allegiance is to Israel not the U.S.

Average Joe   January 29th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

Joe will be working for Joe The (unlicensed)Plumber.

David Clark   January 29th, 2009 6:21 pm ET

One Word Opportunist

ByeByeBush   January 29th, 2009 6:15 pm ET

Can you say Snake. That is what Joe is. Too late to get on board now joe. You weased your way right out of office come 2010. Joe you can suck up all you want but we will use you until the day they vote you out. See if McSame can help you out of this one. McSame can help you about as much as you helped him. Seeeeya Joe Bush McSame.

No Incumbents 2010   January 29th, 2009 6:06 pm ET

"Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman….. your nothing but a smuck buddy"
"Does Joe Lieberman have any convictions, whatsoever? What a weasel!"

And to think the Libs wanted him in 2000 as VP.

FJ from Atlanta   January 29th, 2009 6:03 pm ET

What a weasel.

BB   January 29th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

He's one of the old white men that just says what he's expected to say. We need younger men and women with ideas, not just talking points or sound bytes.

Mike Dallas   January 29th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

I think we know where Joe's allegiance lies.

Anywhere he can find a flat surface for his knee-pads to fit.

Larry from Putnam CT   January 29th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

Hey Liebergrinch – You will be gone in 2010 too!

EC   January 29th, 2009 5:55 pm ET

Lieberman, Lieberman, Lieberman..... your nothing but a smuck buddy. They need to oust you just like they did Blagojevich. YOU are a two-faced snake! I don't believe a WORD coming out of your lying mouth!!

Brian   January 29th, 2009 5:55 pm ET

Does Joe Lieberman have any convictions, whatsoever? What a weasel!

Joe the Troll   January 29th, 2009 5:53 pm ET

What a schmuck.

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