Washington (CNN) - Another prominent conservative is asking Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele to resign, calling his comments on the war in Afghanistan "deeply disappointing and wrong."
Liz Cheney, a former State Department official and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, said in a statement released Saturday that Steele must go.
"RNC Chairman Michael Steele's comments about the war in Afghanistan were deeply disappointing and wrong," Cheney said. "The chairman of the Republican party must be unwavering in his support for American victory in the war on terror – a victory that cannot be accomplished if we do not prevail in Afghanistan. I endorse fully Bill Kristol's letter to Chairman Steele. It is time for Chairman Steele to step down."
Cheney, a founding member of Keep America Safe, a conservative advocacy group focused on national security and foreign policy issues, is not the first to call for Steele's resignation. On Friday, influential conservative and editor of the Weekly Standard William Kristol called on Steele to step down.
Kristol was joined by former South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson, who finished second to Michael Steele in the Republican National Committee chairman's race last year, and also called on the committee to oust their embattled chairman.
The controversy was sparked by Steele's comments made at a Republican fundraiser in Connecticut Thursday. A YouTube video shows the RNC chairman declaring of the war in Afghanistan, "This was a war of Obama's choosing."
"This is not something the United States actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in," he added.
That statement is at odds with the fact the United States led a NATO coalition with overwhelming public support to invade Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Steele also appeared to suggest any conflict in Afghanistan may be unwinnable.
On Friday, the RNC defended Steele.
"The Chairman clearly supports our troops but believes that success of the war effort in Afghanistan requires the ongoing support of the American people," RNC Communications Director Doug Heye said.
And late Friday afternoon, Steele issued his own statement on the matter, saying that "During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack Obama made clear his belief that we should not fight in Iraq, but instead concentrate on Afghanistan. Now, as President, he has indeed shifted his focus to this region. That means this is his strategy. And, for the sake of the security of the free world, our country must give our troops the support necessary to win this war," Steele said.
"As we have learned throughout history, winning a war in Afghanistan is a difficult task. We must also remember that after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, it is also a necessary one. That is why I supported the decision to increase our troop force and, like the entire United States Senate, I support General Petraeus' confirmation. The stakes are too high for us to accept anything but success in Afghanistan."
-CNN's Alexander Mooney, Peter Hamby and Sarah Baker contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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The whole world, except the hoodwinked US (and UK) public, knows the role played by the neocons in precipitating the malevolent farce called the "war on terror". The real terrorists are not the myth popularly known as "al Qaeda" , but extremely well -placed elements within the US military industrial complex with the know-how, the motivation and the wherewithall to be able to not only execute appalling acts of murder and mayhem, but cleverly blame other parties and thereby convince the public, via a complicit corporate media, of the false identity of the deadly enemy we have to fear and defeat. Our individual and collective comfort zones allow us to be psychologically manipulated in this manner without complaint or question.
Who in the world is Butch Cheney other than the son of a warmonger?She has no credentials whats so ever other than a big mouth,trying to save daddy from doing prison time.
No – Please – Do not get rid of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele! – He is the gift that keeps giving – As long as Steele is the Republican National Committee Chairman the Democrat’s future victories are assured!
its nice to see a genetic descendant of dick cheney saying something useful and intelligent...just goes to show that genetic aberrations are not all bad...
Now,if only the rest of the GOP would "fess up" and accept the fact that the next 50 years of america's problems really CAN be linked straight to Bush genes...
scott in NH
Liz, you should leave Chairman Steele be. He is one of just a few African Americans in the G.O.P.
I'm going to ask Boehner for a group picture of him, Steele, and Palin. I want to remember the "Face of the Republican 't Party" so I am never, ever tempted to vote for a GOPher.
Michael Steele is the perfect idiot to be the face of the Republican party. The party that is so out of touch with the American people it's just uncanny. Not that the Democratic party is doing much better, but at least they have the right basic ideas. The Republicans seem to do well only until they decide to speak. Then they seem to make themselves look like idiots.
The scum of the RNC wanted to show how diverse the Republican party is so they got a token. Congrats. It's worked out really well for you. You got the clown huckster you wanted. He's a dirtbag who tried mightly to prevent as many fellow African-Americans as possible from voting in Ohio. Steele is a con-artist, so he is perfect to lead the RNC, liars all.
While I have no love for Steele, esp. after his fast and loose spending issues, he has it right. Any politician that supports a war that doesn't have the full support of the people needs to re-evaluate what they are thinking.
The War mongering Bush thought process that Liz Chaney obviously supports has created more unrest in the world, made new enemies, and only went to serve the pocket books of Bush, Chaney, and their oil baron cronies. This once, I must congratulate Mr. Steele; While I do not support him on anything else, he made the right call here.
What a surprise. Liz "I wanna be just like my pappy!" Cheney defending her father's decision to go to war in Afghanistan. What a joke. What does she do, anyway, besides try to keep her name in the newspaper?
Why does the news cover what Liz Chaney says. What has she ever done aside fron being the vice-presidents daughter? What's her resume? Why don't you cover what the Clinton kid says? At least her dad was president.
L-zib-- Cheney; (s)HE doesn't like Men. Hahaha, lchlchlch. That's why.
I recommend that Liz Cheney take Michael Steele's position. She is much more in tune with the Republican party's ideals.
Proof positive-Palin and Steele are related...
Liz Who?
As if she doesnt have foot-in-mouth disease? They both need to go away.
Why ever Buffert Murdoch says, thats how the G.O.P. will re-act! William Kristol is just another Puppet; Liz Cheney is not far behind like her Father, the Dick! As for the "Black Steele" he's served his purpose, So Its Time To Go !
Steele has been stupid. Thank you Liz.
This is what I love. In-fighting among the republicans.
Good bye DUMB-DUMB , your days are numbered as chairman !
Who the hell is Liz Cheney to ask for anything? Does she hold any elected position? Has she ever? No, she was appointed because daddy was VP. Get lost, you piece of trash!
Why is Liz Cheney relevant, can someone please tell me what she has accomplished?
A YouTube video shows the RNC chairman declaring of the war in Afghanistan, "This was a war of Obama's choosing."
"This is not something the United States actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in," he added.
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I'm pretty sure this was a war of Al Qaeda's choosing when they attacked us on 9/11. Followed by a very flaccid response by Bush (really? a month to get boots on the ground after the biggest ever attack on US soil?). He then decides to divert resources from a war in which we had unprecedented foreign support in order to invade another country based on intelligence that he knew to be faulty and, in at least one case, fraudulent (ie a report that Saddam Hussein was actively purchasing uranium in Africa). That diversion of resources most likely cost us the capture of one of the most evil men currently walking the planet.
Will we never be done with the Cheneys? Dick's health is failing so now we have to listen to Liz. Go away, your time is past.
"War of Obama's choosing?" I'm all in favor of pulling out, but I'm also in favor of remembering history. Recent history. Like, nine-years ago. What a maroon.