GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain defends Afghanistan non-answer

Potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said he did not have enough information to express a clear policy on Afghanistan, but knew the United State's relationship with Israel should be strengthened.

At the Fox News Republican debate in South Carolina two weeks ago, Cain struggled to answer foreign policy questions. He was the only candidate to not have a specific plan for our nation’s involvement in Afghanistan, claiming there was too much information he did not have access to. Cain was also the only one to oppose releasing the photos of Osama bin Laden.

"There are dozens of experts and military leaders I would need advice from before I could make an informed decision about a real clear plan for the USA’s involvement in Afghanistan," he said in a statement released Sunday. "Similarly, a real clear strategy for every country with which we have relationships would be developed, regardless of whether or not we are involved in a military conflict."

Cain added that he wanted the United States to withdraw from Afghanistan "and all war-torn countries as much as the next person" but was not going to "propose a half-baked plan" based on limited information.

"On the other hand, I do know enough about our solid relationship with Israel from decades of observations that I would make it even stronger, which isn’t just about dollars," he added. "And, I would not be hesitant to let the rest of the world know that we will stand by and with our friends."

Cain, the CEO of Godfather's Pizza, said he was able to succeed in business for over 40 years by asking the right questions, not by having an answer for everything.

Image courtesy of Gage Skidmore