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Esch makes trip to Afghanistan

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By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 11:27:29 am CDT

The United States needs to attack terrorist elements in remote Pakistani border areas if Pakistan refuses to act, Democratic congressional nominee Jim Esch said Tuesday.

Esch, just returned from a personally financed trip to Afghanistan, said Pakistan should be pressured to “go in there and expel them” or accept a coalition attack led by the United States.

“If there’s another 9/11 attack being plotted against us, you can almost guarantee that’s where it’s happening,” he said.

Story Photo
Jim Esch

Esch is the Democratic nominee for the House seat held by Republican Rep. Lee Terry, who represents metropolitan Omaha’s 2nd District.

“We can’t allow al-Qaida and other terrorist elements to operate freely” across the border from Afghanistan, Esch said in a telephone interview.

Taliban gains already are threatening the stability and security of Afghanistan, he said.

“It almost feels like we’re repeating the same mistakes in Afghanistan that occurred when the Soviets withdrew,” Esch said.

When Russian troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 after a nine-year war, the United States essentially abandoned interest in the war-torn country and it eventually slid into Taliban rule.

Esch said he decided to go to Afghanistan to get a feel for conditions on the ground and because of Omaha’s direct ties through the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thomas Gouttierre, the center’s director, helped arrange contacts and Esch forked over $2,000 in personal funds to make the trip.

Esch spent four days in Kabul talking with Afghans, aid workers and contractors.

“They all said security has deteriorated,” he said.

Esch said he supports “some sort of diplomatic and military strategy to clear out that border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” which is breeding most of the terrorist activity.

And, he said, the United States should work with other nations to help craft a Marshall Plan to help rebuild Afghanistan.

But the United States also needs to “refocus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” as the underlying source of violence in the Middle East, he said.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.


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Tonya wrote on August 12, 2008 11:46 am:
" Esch is showing allot of initiative and is highly motivated to serve the 2nd district. That is great for citizens. It is also great to see Max Yashirin answering the call to serve in the 1st District as a replacement for Fortenberry who lingered too long with status quo politics that had PAC interests motivating him. Having a former Marine in the House should provide a rational direction for our military spending. There has been too much waste in Iraq, from soldier lives to resources, it is time for change. Max was in Iraq and knows where our soldiers are coming from when they say things have to change. "

 BB wrote on August 12, 2008 12:47 pm:
" What a Joke Esch is. He spends four days "on the ground" in Kabul and all of a sudden he has all the answers. Let's not mention that the answers he has would disrupt the fragile political situation in Pakisatan and risk putting nuclear weapons into the hands of Muslim extremists. It is not suprising that Tom Goutierre would help him, considering he is a well known Dem whose son worked for Bob Kerrey. Esch, and for that matter, Yashirin, are both amateurs who will be soundly rejected by the voters this fall. "

 Roger wrote on August 12, 2008 1:11 pm:
" Time for some new blood in Nebraska. Wake up and smell the coffee people voting for the same people and expecting different results is crazy. And no I'm not a democrat I'm just sick of the way things are! "

 Why wrote on August 12, 2008 1:53 pm:
" I am a liberal Democrat, but am not sure why exactly Esch went to Afghanistan. Did he have a job before running for Congress? I worry that the congressional/senatorial candidates have frighteningly little real-world job experience (Kleeb, Esch, and the perenially jobless Adrian Smith) ... and they want to run the country. "

 How did Esch pay for it...no really wrote on August 12, 2008 1:56 pm:
" According to the FEC documents (which he filed late in violation of the law), Esch only made $15,000 total last year. That's it. So, we are to belive that he spent a couple of grand on this trip? Really? "

 Wrong BB wrote on August 12, 2008 2:29 pm:
" The jokes on you for believing that Lee Terry is a heck of a Congressmen. Out of the ten years Terry has been in the House, he's only done 7 "bills" (if you even want to call them that). Lee Terry has been rated as one of the most ineffective Congressmen during his tenure. Same goes for Adrian Smith and Fortenberry. And now, Terry is on vacation in DC with his other partisan hacks of the Republican Party who would rather maintain the status quo instead provide innovative solutions.

Sounds like Nebraska needs a change of leadership to me. We should vote out the failed Congressmen like Lee Terry, Fortenberry and Smith and replace them with Esch, Yashirin and Stoddard. Not to mention, we need Kleeb as opposed to a quitter who doesn't have the stomach to finish the job. "

 Janet wrote on August 12, 2008 4:21 pm:
" It is surprising that some would view perennial politicians as more in touch with the people. Having fresh faces in Congress is one way of cutting ties PACs have established. There is plenty of support for first year members of Congress. But most important, is change, as status quo rubber stamping of failed policies has put our economy and families across the nation in peril. "Answering the Call" of the people to reinstall representative government in Washington looks to be rooted in the character and actions of Esch, Kleeb and Yashirin. "

 Oh no wrote on August 12, 2008 4:35 pm:
" I agree, 4 days of "sight seeing " and he's got all the answers!!!!
Would that be, vote for me? "

 KevinK wrote on August 12, 2008 4:45 pm:
" I am happy Esch went to Afghanistan, that shows desire to learn. Lee Terry has rode on the coattails of being a celebrity and not a substantive politician. He occupies a seat that could be filled by almost anyone, as the only qualification to meet his standard might be to smile and vote with the President, whether that is right or wrong, the script holds whatever is best for the interest of oil companies or war companies. It is time for voters to retire Terry and place Esch in a position where his motivation, courage, and initiative can help change Washington. .It too should be a no brainer for a Marine and UNL graduate, like Max Yashirin to fill Fortenberry's seat...he's lived high on the hog at taxpayers expense! "

 K wrote on August 12, 2008 6:30 pm:
" "Out of the ten years Terry has been in the House, he's only done 7 bills"
How does one "do" a bill? He's sponsored 39 already in the 110th Congress so it can't be that. Please explain this to me! I'm dying to learn how a bill is "done." "

 Concerned Republican wrote on August 12, 2008 7:40 pm:
" While I don't particularly agree with Mr. Esch's politics, I have a sincere problem voting for Congressman Terry this November. From what I can tell Mr. Terry has had little, to zero, positive effect on lives of Nebraska individuals or businesses. I would rather have a Congressman who earnestly tries to help our citizens, rather than a pay-check collecting empty suit. Mr. Terry has not only done very little for Nebraskans, he has shown tremendously poor judgment in following, without question, the Republican leadership of the most recent four years. This poor judgment is a contributing factor in the sincere pain felt by many Nebraka citizens. I suggest Democrats and Republicans alike vote for Mr. Esch this November, if for no other reason than avoid two more years of Mr. Terry, and hopefully to get the Republican Party back on track. "

 Joseph P. Sokolovsky wrote on August 12, 2008 8:13 pm:
" BB
I totally agree with you.

Does Mr. Esch think the voters in Nebraska are complete idiots?

One little four day swing through Afghanistan, and he has got "all" the
anwers!! He knows more then our experienced military leaders and more then
our nonmilitary leaders with years and years of experience!

Mr. Esch you come off as another Barack Obama.....knows nothing...talks a good game....but NO meaningful experience!! I want to sleep at night, Mr. Esch, please....drop out of the race NOW. Thank you! "

 Karina wrote on August 12, 2008 8:14 pm:
" Jim Esch has not yet had his eyes blinded by PAC money and lobbyists. Core to the trip of Esch was an observation that remains a key to ending the lure of anti American sentiment and recruiting of terrorists, " The poverty of the country is staggering and immediately realized. The vast majority of the people are young, unemployed, and uneducated." Change in the way we foster national security and assist economic development, with other global economic leaders, is a pathway to securing the globe, excessive military force only detracts and subtracts from that opportunity. "

 CH wrote on August 13, 2008 12:37 pm:
" What do you Republicans want? If he didn't go to Afghanistan, you'd say he hasn't been there to see what it is really like there. Now he goes there for four days and thats too short. If he was there for 5 days would that be enough? "

 MarkyMark wrote on August 13, 2008 1:57 pm:
" What kind of knee-jerk posters are you people. Esch explains what he learned while there. He never onece claimed "To have all the answers", what gives? Can you explain why you want to put words in his mouth? "

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