Steele was speaking at a Connecticut fundraiser in July 2010, and the comment sparked an immediate uproar – not because it wasn’t a debatable assertion, but because it was completely off the GOP message. To many Republicans, and some Democrats, Steele’s comment reflected less-than-100-percent support for US troops in Afghanistan.
The next day, Steele issued a clarification: "There is no question that America must win the war on terror. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama made clear his belief that we should not fight in Iraq, but instead concentrate on Afghanistan. Now, as president, he has indeed shifted his focus to this region. That means this is his strategy. And, for the sake of the security of the free world, our country must give our troops the support necessary to win this war."
