Democrats Largely Disappointed With Obama's Afghanistan Announcement

[KoKo]

Democrats Largely Disappointed With Obama's Afghanistan Announcement
by Amanda Terkel

WASHINGTON -- Democratic lawmakers who have been pressing for a sizable and significant withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan almost universally expressed disappointment with President Barack Obama's speech on Wednesday night.

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Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told reporters on Tuesday that the president needed to put forward, at a minimum, an initial withdrawal of 15,000 troops -- a number that Obama fell short of -- to meet his promise of a "significant" drawdown.

"The president's decision represents a positive development, although in my view the conditions on the ground justify an even larger drawdown of U.S. troops this year than the president announced tonight," he said in a statement after the speech. "I will continue to advocate for an accelerated drawdown in the months ahead, and for enhanced training and partnering with Afghan forces, because only they can provide durable security for their nation."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has been a vocal supporter of a robust withdrawal, also said president's announcement was not what she had been hoping for. "It has been the hope of many in Congress and across the country that the full drawdown of U.S. forces would happen sooner than the President laid out -- and we will continue to press for a better outcome," she said.

"e'll have twice as many combat troops in Afghanistan at the end of his term than we did at the beginning. We should instead have a path to bring those troops home," said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). Merkley, along with Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), was one of the authors of a letter calling for a "sizable and sustained reduction" of military forces in Afghanistan, which garnered the support of 27 senators. Merkley said he would consider an initial reduction of 15,000 to 20,000 troops to be sizable.

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[hlthe2b]

1. Me too... n/t

[Poll_Blind]

2. Hey maybe President Obama will do that bargaining thing of his where he concedes all sorts of...

..stuff. Right? He'll wheel and deal on Social Security- am I on crazy pills to think he just might give away the farm when it comes to keeping all those teats out for War Industry in Afghanistan?

Would that be great? Wouldn't it, though? That's a hard bargain I'd like to be driven.

...

Hey- YOU! You sniggering back there. I heard you. You said I was crazy. Why do you laugh? Why do you think he won't budge an inch beyond his current numbers? ... Do you know something deep down about him that I don't?

If so, what is it?

:shrug:

PB

[otohara]

3. Count Me Disappointed

felt like I was being lectured.

[provis99]

4. at least the Republicans are behind Obama's Afghanistan policy.

Wait, isn't that a problem?

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. I feel safe from another terrorist cell based in Hamburg, don't you?

Why this stupid war as allowed to continue one more hour remains a complete mystery.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Good! Now defund Obama's FUBAR war.

[Bluebear]

7. They just want President Palin~!

:cry: