Carson continues opposition to Iraq, Afghanistan wars

By Curt Mills, Curt Mills

Published December 20, 2015

Appearing on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Dr. Ben Carson, second place in most GOP presidential polls and the Washington Examiner's power rankings, said he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, agreeing with Donald Trump, and indicated that he might not have invaded Afghanistan in 2001, a position he has been toying with for some time.

He indicated that he would have favored a policy of isolating extremist elements in the middle east, but conceded he would have considered "aggressive action" in 2001.

"Declare that within five to 10 years, we will become petroleum independent. The moderate Arab states would have been so concerned about that, they would have turned over Osama bin Laden and anybody else you wanted on a silver platter within two weeks," Carson said.

"I think that probably would have trumped any loyalty that they had to people like Osama bin Laden," Carson added.

He was then pressed by Stephanopoulos. "But they didn't have any loyalty to Osama bin Laden. The Saudis kicked him out. He was their enemy."