In sharp reversal, Lieberman praises Obama's Afghanistan policy
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/29/art.liebermanmac0129.gi.jpg caption="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.
And we care what Lieberman thinks because???
A lot to be said about keeping enemies closer. Touche President Obama.
OK is anyone else sick of this guy. Go away JOE.. Please
Did he say it out loud or did he whisper it in McCains ear?
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.
Flip-Flopper strikes again.
Antenna up. Lieberman has surfaced. What does he want now.
Listen to the wind blow
...and if Obama's presidency ends up being lackluster, I'm sure Lieberman will be the first to cast a large stone.
What a hypocrite
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.
Lieberman is a a relic that will soon be ousted from office come election time.
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.
Backstabbing little weasel.
Lieber-who?