Strong words from Speaker Pelosi about Afghanistan:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned Tuesday that every dollar President Obama decides to spend on the war in Afghanistan is one less that's available to help bring about an economic recovery, improve the jobs situation and bank away political capital for Democrats leading up to the midterm elections.At some point, the cost of the war to the country, monetarily, and the damage that cost could cause, has to factor into any analysis of our national security interest. The Soviets thought it was in their national security interest to keep up with Reagan's defense spending in the 80s. But the monetary cost eventually caught up with them.
"I think we have to look at that war with a green eyeshade on," Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday on a conference call with financial reporters and economists who blog. "There is unrest in our caucus about: Can we afford this war?"
Pelosi qualified her remarks by noting that cost is not the top concern. "I think the American people believe that if it's something that's in our national security interest," she said, then the investment is worth it.
