Rep. Stephen Lynch: Trump's Afghanistan Speech Was 'Self-Contradictory'

President Donald Trump spoke about his Afghanistan strategy during a Presidential Address to the Nation in Fort Myer, Va. Aug. 21, 2017.

Molly Boigon is a former associate producer and reporter for Learning Curve, WGBH’s K-12 education desk. She has also worked for Boston Public Radio and WGBH’s higher education desk, On Campus. Her interests include jazz, yoga and public records requests. Before joining WGBH, she worked at SiriusXM, WZBC and WAAF. She has a degree in Applied Psychology and Human Development from Boston College’s Lynch School of Education.

August 22, 2017

Rep. Stephen Lynch was not impressed by President Trump’s explanation of his Afghanistan plan Monday night.

“That speech was totally self-contradictory,” he said on Boston Public Radio Tuesday. “First of all, he cautioned us against a hasty withdrawal, as he put it — after 15 years, this is now a hasty withdrawal. He also had some suggestions there that I think are probably designed, if not intended, to inflame that whole region.”

Lynch pointed to Trump’s plan to engage both Pakistan and India in support of the American plan.

“In one breath he says it’s time for the Pakistanis to help us, in the second breath he’s saying he’s going to bring in India, who the Pakistanis perceive as their mortal enemy,” said Lynch.

President Donald Trump declined to mention the number of troops that would be deployed in Afghanistan, but nonetheless awakened a debate about a 16-yearslong conflict in the Middle East that has dogged two of his predecessors.

Lynch said he agreed with some aspects of Trump’s address, including the fact that “force alone will not do this.”

He reflected on his time in Afghanistan, during which the U.S. had 120,000 troops on the ground as a part of a multinational coalition, with little tangible success.

“I think the flaw is in our perception of Afghanistan, in thinking that we’re going to turn that into a modern, Western-style nation,” Lynch said. “It is, at best, a loose association of tribes and that’s where the loyalties lie — in their tribal affiliation, and not with respect to the government in Kabul.”

Lynch elaborated on infrastructure problems, like a lack of electricity, and literacy problems that continue to plague the nation.

“To expect Afghanistan to step up and do it themselves as [Trump] intimated last night ... right now, they’re the fourth poorest country in the world. They’ve got at best 20 percent of their male population that can read and write,” he said. “It’s a tough, tough place.”

He predicted a 75 to 100 yearlong process that would require support of the Afghan people in addition to American efforts.

“It’s a long slog if you’re going to try to move that country forward without having the support of the people,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch represents Massachusetts' 8th district. He’s Co-Chair of the Task Force on Anti-Terrorism and Proliferation Financing, and Co-Founder of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus. To hear his interview in its entirety, click on the audio player above.