Harkin: Afghanistan purpose accomplished, time for U.S. to get out

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Thursday said it is time for the United States to “fundamentally rethink” the “so-called” war on terror.

“We need to get out of these large-scale conflicts, refocus our efforts on smaller operations, intelligence-gathering, law enforcement, and cooperating with our allies,” Harkin said.

In a conference call with the Daily Times Herald and other media on Thursday, Harkin said the Obama administration’s planned draw-down in Afghanistan, announced by the president on Wednesday, is too small.

“I don’t think the president’s proposal to withdraw 10,000 troops is enough,” Harkin said.

Making a case that the United States and allies had made significant progress, Obama said 10,000 troops would be pulled from Afghanistan by the end of the year with another 23,000 returning from the conflict there in 2012 — leaving 68,000 in Afghanistan.

Read the full story in The Carroll Daily Times Herald.