Feingold: Voters Oppose Afghan Troop Surge

(CBS)  Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) said on "Face the Nation" Sunday that President Obama would "have trouble with the American people" should he decide to add 40,000 troops to the war in Afghanistan.

"It's not about me or any political party; he's going to have trouble with the American people," Feingold told CBS News Chief Washington correspondent and "Face the Nation" anchor Bob Schieffer. "It's not about one party. In fact, I'd say there's a broad majority in this country that thinks it's a very bad idea to put in 40,000 new troops on top of the 60,000 or 70,000 we have now."

Feingold was responding to his fellow senator, Republican John McCain of Arizona, who should he decide to commit additional troops to the Afghan front. McCain argued that for this reason Republicans should be publicly supportive of whatever the president decides.

Schieffer asked Feingold what he thought of former Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks that indecision in Washington would embolden the nation's adversaries - a question, Schieffer said, McCain "sort of danced around" earlier on the program.

"It's too early on Sunday for dancing," Feingold said. "So let me just say I think what the vice president said was terrible. The notion that President Obama is 'dithering'? He's doing his job. He's being thoughtful. He is wrestling with, frankly, one of the toughest decisions I've ever seen a president have to make.

"I don't know if he's going to end up agreeing with me. But I thank God that we've got a president that's thinking about this instead of getting us into a further mistake, such as President Bush did with Iraq."

Feingold said the assertion that al Qaeda would eventually return to power in Afghanistan should the Taliban regain its hold on the country "is based on some very false assumptions."

"Al Qaeda didn't begin in Afghanistan," Feingold said. "And the idea that the Taliban is the same as al Qaeda, and they're going to welcome al Qaeda back with open arms into Afghanistan, is questionable. I understand they let them come there earlier. The al Qaeda came with lots of money, Saudi money, and it looked like a pretty good deal for them. But, you know, they've seen that movie before.

"The idea that the Taliban is going to see it as in their interest to have the world headquarters of al Qaeda back in Afghanistan I think is very dubious."

Schieffer asked if Feingold is prepared to try to stop the president in the Senate should he decide to approve the troop increase.

"Yes," Feingold said. "I'm already working with people like Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Republican congressman Walter Jones (N.C.), (Rep.) Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and others to prepare for that possibility. I have already voted against various spending bills that support this policy. I didn't even think the addition of the troops earlier this year made sense. So there will be resistance to this if necessary."

Feingold also said that he would like the president to announce a flexible timetable for the withdrawal of troops already in Afghanistan.

On Congress' efforts to reform the nation's health care system, Feingold said it would be very hard to accept a bill that did not include a publicly funded alternative, or a public option, to a private insurance plan. Even a program that would go into effect after patients met certain criteria, or a trigger option, would not be helpful, he said.

[noloyalisti]

Yes, should we support the surge that will kill more Americans and innocent civilians for corporate profit? Or should we use the money for universal health care, fixing the roads, creating jobs and improving education? Hmmmmmm, that's a tough decision.

[natdef_1]

VOTERS OPPOSE FEINGOLD.

THIS GUY IS THE MALE EQUIVALENT OF A TOFU WEANIE ON A WHOLE WHEAT BUN (WITH ARUGULA).

[gregc63701]

Fiengold and the rest of the Obama Adminstration, Including Obama are fools! I can't help but wonder, how many million American citizens Fiengold surveyed to reach his conclusion? I probobly already know that answer. It's amazing to me that Obama and his idiots think that they know more about the situation on the ground if Afghanistan than the generals and the troops with boots on the ground! Our young men and women who fight for this country deserve better than the Obama wisdom. Our soldiers have been dying in the last few weeks at a higher rate than ever before because the enemy is emboldened by Obama's waffling. Obama stalls on sending reinforcements, John (the coward)Kerry speaks out, once again, against our troops, and everyone wants to debate the situation! Well, debate, debate, debate, and while you debate, our young men and women die knowing that they don't have the support of a crippled, weak, cowardly administration, that fails them time and time again. Obama, Axelrod, Immanuel, Kerry, and the rest of you cowardly politicians, I hope that you can live with the blood of our troops that is on your hands. I for one will never forget or fogive what you have done!

[babooph]

I guess the voters remember "The surge worked" BS in Iraq.Or maybe they recall Westmorland ,endlessly demanding troop increases & the result of giving him 500k men...

[gregc63701]

OK, bapooph, or is that just bad poop? So,I suppose that this Nation simply sacrifices our troops in harms way just to satisfy our cowardly government, and the cowards like you who unforunately live in this country!

[stuart-johns2]

Voters Oppose Afghan Troop Surge

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Voters oppose many things but Washington rarely listens.

[chevyhotrod]

Wars are not won or fought with poles.

[robinspp]

Bush and Mr. Dick the war mongers caused all these problems. Absolutely, keeping troops in Afghanistan and Iraq is a waste.

[chevyhotrod]

Bush and Mr. Chaney caused 9-11?

[gregc63701]

Hey robinspp! Just wondered which end of the gene pool you managed to crawl out of! I'm sure that your educated comment is exactly right! It was Bush and Chaney that flew planes into the WTC and the Pentagon, and I'm sure that they crahed that plane into the field in Penn. But that aside, I do agree that we should have left Iraq right after Sadaam was captured and hung. But, in Afghanistan, where the terrorists that attacked this Nation trained and were hidden, the fight that we have with them is a just cause. It would be easy to do nothing, but in doing so we invite every terrorist group in the world to attack us again on our own soil! Problem is, our present government would sooner sacrifice our troops on the ground, and accept defeat rather than do what is necessary. And that is?! send the reinforcements needed, use all of our firepower to defeat or completely destroy the enemy!

[pensacola8-2009]

Nation building is a tough and hard business.

I recall on Meet the Press in 1992 as Bush 41 was exiting office, he was asked "Why didn't we go finish the job in Iraq and depose Saddam Hussein?" His answer was loud and clear, "We are not in the nation-building business"

I recall on network television with Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, also being asked, "Why didn't we go finish the job in Iraq and depose Saddam Hussein?" and he answered, "Their type of government is so predictable, and if he was taken out, they (Iraqis) would just replace him with someone just as bad or worse."

Iraq and Afghanistan are two places that nation-building would be difficult, because of their clerical hatred for western influence. We have to remember that Iran was overthrown in 1953 and then again in 1979. We only enjoyed that Iranian alliance for 26 years. The commitment would require at least 26 years forward into the future to learn if it passes the test of time - 2035.

The real test of character for us is how we leave and what we do for those whose lives have been displaced or destroyed. If we are allowed to have a peaceful presence long enough to rebuild their infrastructure under a "Marshal Plan" we can leave with peaceful seeds planted for a more promising future and be patient for what actually comes to pass.

[searingtruth]

"A peoples revolution cannot be won by a foreign army."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[stn_sage]

Regarding comments by other posters: first, neither Bush nor Obama run the military on the 'basis of polling data'. When did Bush ever listen to anyone...that's a joke?! Second, the 'majority' are NOT against the public option, but FOR it! Third, there IS sufficient reason to believe that whatever happens in Afghanistan, and however Mr. Obama responds to it, that the Senate will improperly respond! And finally, Al Queda...if it sets up in 'Stan...WON'T tell the Taliban what to do...if the Taliban become in charge...NO ONE will tell them what to do!

IF President Obama sends more troops there...it will become his war-PLUS and he can forget about a second term...he's done...expanding a Bush mistake makes him unelectable!

[olyboy]

I think running our military on the basis of polling data is stupid. Suggesting that we do says a great deal about the Feingold brain power. On one hand they ignore the majority view that healthcare reform as proposed is a bad idea but on the other suggest a majority being against troop expansion must be followed. Idiots.

[slownewsday-05]

"On one hand they ignore the majority view that healthcare reform as proposed is a bad idea"

Are you hallucinating? What's been proposed? And where do you see the majority opposing reform??

Make some sense.