Trump's Shift on Afghanistan: A "Terrible Mistake" with a Cautionary Exit Strategy

Donald Trump's comments on CNN's "New Day" marked a shift in his stance on the US war in Afghanistan, describing the 2001 invasion as a "terrible mistake". However, he also expressed caution on withdrawing US troops, fearing a collapse of the government. This stance diverges from his earlier views on the Iraq War, which he has long called a mistake.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump described the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 as a "terrible mistake", a statement he has not made previously about the war.
• He advocated for leaving a residual US force in Afghanistan, expressing concern that the government would collapse without it.
• Trump's comments appeared to be in line with reports that President Barack Obama is considering leaving a sizable US force in Afghanistan next year.
• Trump's stance on Afghanistan is distinct from his views on Iraq, where he has consistently called the war a mistake.
• Trump has previously stated that he favors avoiding foreign conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan and has suggested that the US should draw down its involvement in fighting ISIS in Syria, leaving it to Russia instead.

Statistics:

• 54% of Americans believe the decision to send US troops into Afghanistan in 2001 was not a mistake, according to a June 2015 Gallup poll.
• 42% of Americans say the war was a mistake, according to the same Gallup poll.
• Trump has expressed a preference for leaving a residual US force in Afghanistan, citing the potential for government collapse without it.

Sources:

• CNN, "Trump says Afghanistan invasion was a 'terrible mistake'", June 2015
• Gallup, "Afghanistan War", June 2015
• CNN, "Trump says he'd agree with Obama's Afghanistan plan", June 2015
• CNN, "Trump criticism of Obama's Afghanistan strategy", June 2015