Wisconsin responses to Afghanistan address

[undeterred]

U.S. Rep. Baldwin: Statement on the announced troop surge in Afghanistan

“In 2001, I voted to authorize the use of force to bring to justice those responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

I believe our current actions in Afghanistan and President Obama’s proposal for moving forward bear little resemblance to that original, narrowly-focused mission.

I cannot endorse a military surge in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It’s time for our troops to come home.”


U.S. Rep. Kind: Statement on the President’s Afghanistan address

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) today made the following statement in response to the President’s address on Afghanistan.

“A decision to increase troops is one of the most difficult decisions a President has to make. I am pleased that President Obama is taking time to weigh all the options and is asking the right questions. It is important that the policy is worth the sacrifice that our men and women in uniform are making on behalf of our country.

“It is also important that we have a legitimate partner in Afghanistan, so that we are able to train and equip Afghan troops and develop a minimal level of self governance. Any plan should have measurable objectives so our troops have clear direction and so we know if we are succeeding. It is crucial that we do not Americanize Afghanistan and at the same time, our overriding objective must be to eliminate safe havens so Al Qaeda cannot launch future terrorist attacks against us or other nations. To do this, we need a coordinated, regional approach that involves the international community and does not solely focus on military force but also focuses on economic development in the region, especially agriculture.

“Having just been to Pakistan, I know that a partnership with Pakistan is important to rooting out terrorists and ensuring stability in the region.

“Earlier this year, Wisconsin had the largest deployment of National Guard members since World War II. I know the stress and strain that repeated deployments have on our military members and their families. I am pleased that President Obama is focused on an exit strategy so our troops will not be in Afghanistan one day longer than what is necessary.”


U.S. Rep. Sensenbrenner: Statement on the President's troop remarks

“I fully support the troops who are protecting our nation both here and abroad, and I share in their commitment to preventing al-Qaeda from finding a safe haven where they can continue to plot their vicious and evil attacks on innocent civilians.

“I am thankful the President has finally decided to send additional troops overseas, as requested by our military months ago, and it is my sincere hope that his strategy succeeds. With that said, I am dismayed that the President is going against the troop recommendations made by our commanders on the ground and fear his decision is leading us down a road we don’t want to be on. Risking more lives is not a decision any General takes lightly, and we should not be cutting corners when it comes to something as serious as defeating terrorists and protecting our troops as they carry out dangerous missions. We should also not be setting timelines to withdraw troops, as this only motivates the terrorists to wait out Washington.

“Furthermore, I will not support placing additional taxes on the American people to pay for this war. Democrats have already added new tax after new tax to the trillions of dollars they have proposed for social programs, and it’s only gotten us double-digit unemployment numbers. Our troops need our full support. This tax talk is a diversion by the Democrats to distract the public from their poor policies and leadership. Our military should not need to count on a new tax before they can do what is right.”


U.S. House Appropriations Committee: Chairman Obey statement on President's new Afghanistan war policy

WASHINGTON – Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement this evening on the President’s new Afghanistan war policy:

“The President has inherited a god awful mess and has no good options available. I hope his policy succeeds, and I know our troops – who have sacrificed so much already – will give everything they’ve got to make it work, but there are huge obstacles that stand in the way. We can have the most carefully thought out policy in the world, but if we do not have the tools on the ground, the odds for success are stacked against us. And right now, the only tools available to us are the Pakistani government and the Karzai government in Afghanistan. Both are incredibly weak reeds to lean on.

“We also face the question of how we will pay for the endeavor. The cost of conducting the campaign in Afghanistan could approach $90 billion this year and we’re told a long-term, multi-year commitment is necessary for success. That could cost anywhere from $500 billion to $900 billion over the next decade, which could devour our ability to pay for the actions necessary to rebuild our own economy. We simply cannot afford to shortchange the crucial investments we need in education, job training, healthcare, and energy independence. The biggest threat to our long-term national security is a stunted economy.

“If this endeavor is to be pursued, we must have a renewed sense of shared sacrifice – because right now only military families are paying the cost of this war. A progressive war surtax is the fairest way to pay for it – fairest to working class families and fairest to military families.”


U.S. Sen. Feingold: Reaction to President Obama's Speech on Afghanistan

Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the President’s Decision to Increase Our Troop Presence in Afghanistan

“I do not support the president’s decision to send additional troops to fight a war in Afghanistan that is no longer in our national security interest. It’s an expensive gamble to undertake armed nation-building on behalf of a corrupt government of questionable legitimacy. Sending more troops could further destabilize Afghanistan and, more importantly, Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state where al Qaeda is headquartered. While I appreciate that the president made clear we won’t be in Afghanistan forever, I am disappointed by his decision not to offer a timetable for ending our military presence there. I will work with members of both parties and both houses of Congress to push for a flexible timetable to reduce our troop levels in Afghanistan, as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat al Qaeda in the region and around the world.”

Earlier today, Senator Feingold was joined by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Walter Jones (R-NC) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) in voicing opposition to a troop increase for Afghanistan.

Video of Senator Feingold’s remarks is available at http://www.youtube.com/senrussfeingold#p/u/0/nmFRe1qesSg


U.S. Sen. Kohl: Statement on the president’s address to the nation on Afghanistan

“We cannot simply walk away from Afghanistan, let the Taliban and al Qaeda take over and threaten the stability of a nuclear armed Pakistan. After careful review the President has laid out a new strategy, with timelines and benchmarks and more emphasis on training Afghan troops and police. We should give his new strategy an opportunity to work, but be clear that this is not an open-ended commitment if the Afghan people and government fail to do their part.”


Nothing from Moore, Kagen, Petri or Ryan yet.

[ClassWarrior]

1. The Democratic Party of Milwaukee County:

"Today, many of us are disappointed in the continuation of a failed strategy in our Middle East policy. The previous administration made many mistakes, which cost American lives and made us less safe. They set aside the battle with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in order to lead us into folly in Iraq, and the American people clearly voted in the last two elections for a change in direction. Today, we are glad to have a President that takes his obligations seriously, that took the time to consider his options and weigh the consequences. But we disagree with his decision.

"Our Party clearly stood up for change at our State Convention this year. We passed resolutions calling for a new direction in Iraq, and for a change in how we burden the members and families of the Wisconsin National Guard. Although we appreciate President Obama's leadership on health care, on the economy, and on moving our domestic priorities forward, we think it's the wrong decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan.

"U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, who is a member of both the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, said it best last night:

'(The) war in Afghanistan ... is no longer in our national security interest. It's an expensive gamble to undertake armed nation-building on behalf of a corrupt government of questionable legitimacy. Sending more troops could further destabilize Afghanistan and, more importantly, Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state where al Qaeda is headquartered.'

"Senator Feingold has it right. It does not protect the women and children of Afghanistan to empower the Taliban to recruit more Pashtun. It does not help communities in America to drive more Afghanis into the heroin trade. In this case, it clearly does not build a lasting peace to promote more war in the hills of Afghanistan.

"The people of Afghanistan and the American people both deserve better, and a new direction. Of course, the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County supports and stands behind our President, Barack Obama. We appreciate that we live in a free and confident country that can withstand dissent and we stand united as Americans, and as Democrats, in thanking President Obama for doing what the previous President did not do - take his time to hear all perspectives and make a decision with all the facts. But we urge the Congress and the American people to push for a new, lasting peace in Afghanistan and a renewed focus on isolating and defeating Al Qaeda."

http://milwaukeedems.org/AfghanistanStatement

NGU.