Feingold Threatens To Undercut U.S. Military Commanders, Block Troop Request For Afghanistan

Monday, 26 October 2009 16:24

In the News

WASHINGTON - Apparently possessing more national security expertise than the highly-decorated military commander on the ground, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) declared over the weekend that he would block any attempt by President Obama to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.

In an interview on CBS’ "Face The Nation," Feingold promised "There will be resistance to this if necessary... We will do what we can to prevent this mistake" in reference to the potential of an escalation of troops.

By doing so, Feingold puts himself squarely at odds with Obama’s hand-picked military commander in Afghanistan, the widely-respected Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who has stated that an additional 40,000 American troops are required to secure the war-torn country, whose stability has long been viewed as critical to preventing future terrorist attacks on American soil.

Like President Obama and many other Democrats critical of the Bush Administration’s Iraq policy, Feingold has in the past referred to Afghanistan as the "main issue," citing the fact that it was the origin country of the people "who attacked us."

"It is the height of arrogance for Russ Feingold to suggest he has a better strategy for success in Afghanistan than the commanding General on the ground," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Colin Reed said today. "When it comes to national security issues, Russ Feingold long ago lost any credibility with the American people when he was the only United States Senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act that has helped keep our nation safe for the last eight years. His recent threat to undercut top military commanders represents a callous attitude toward protecting our country from future terrorist attacks, and he will be held accountable for this type of dangerous rhetoric at the ballot box next fall."