Some call for Steele’s ouster after Afghanistan comments

As criticism swelled, Steele issued a statement stressing his support for US troops, but he did not acknowledge his factual error about a war launched by President George W. Bush in response to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

For Democrats, looking at a difficult environment ahead of November’s midterm elections, the gaffe was an opportunity to test their strategy of attacking the GOP with its members’ own words.

For some Republican pundits, it was further evidence that it’s time for Steele to step down.

“There are, of course, those who think we should pull out of Afghanistan, and they’re certainly entitled to make their case,’’ wrote Bill Kristol, a conservative commentator and consistent backer of the effort in Afghanistan.

“But one of them shouldn’t be the chairman of the Republican Party.’’

In remarks captured Thursday on camera and posted online, Steele criticized President Obama and his handling of the war and suggested it cannot be won.

“If he’s such a student of history, has he not understood that, you know, that’s the one thing you don’t do is engage in a land war in Afghanistan? All right? Because everyone who’s tried, over a thousand years of history, has failed,’’ Steele said. “And there are reasons for that. There are other ways to engage in Afghanistan.’’

Republican officials confirmed Steele made the comments at a fund-raiser for Connecticut Republicans in Noank. It was closed to the media. The remarks, at odds with members of the Republican Party, were caught on camera and posted on the Web.

“This was a war of Obama’s choosing,’’ Steele said. “This is not something the United States has actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in.’’

The United States and allies overthrew Afghanistan’s Taliban government after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The war lagged as the United States shifted its focus to Iraq, but Obama shifted the focus to Afghanistan and planned to send 30,000 more troops to the country.

Looking to mitigate the political fallout, Steele issued a statement yesterday, saying, “There is no question that America must win the war on terror. . . . And, for the sake of the security of the free world, our country must give our troops the support necessary to win this war.’’

He said, “The stakes are too high for us to accept anything but success in Afghanistan.’’

Steele’s comments came as Obama’s new chief in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, arrived in the country yesterday to take over the war. Obama last week dismissed his previous commander, General Stanley McChrystal, after he made disparaging comments about his superiors in a Rolling Stone interview.

Steele called the dismissal “very comical’’ but said it shows the frustration members of the military have with Obama.

Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, said it was “simply unconscionable that Michael Steele would undermine the morale of our troops when what they need is our support and encouragement. Michael Steele would do well to remember that we are not in Afghanistan by our own choosing, that we were attacked and that his words have consequences.’’

Erick Erickson, the editor of the popular conservative website RedState.com and an opinion driver among younger Republicans, also called for Steele’s ouster.

“Michael Steele must resign. He has lost all moral authority to lead the GOP,’’ Erickson said.

RNC spokesman Doug Heye said Steele “clearly supports our troops but believes that success of the war effort in Afghanistan requires the ongoing support of the American people. The responsibility for building and maintaining that strategy falls squarely on the shoulders of the president.’’

Steele has been prone to gaffes that have enraged congressional Republicans. In the last year, he predicted the GOP won’t win House control this fall.

He also drew GOP ire when he criticized fellow Republicans in a book that party leaders didn’t know he was writing until it was published. His GOP critics were irked further when he told them to “get a life’’ and “shut up.’’