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Archive for the ‘Afghanistan’ Category

Congressman John Yarmuth says he wouldn’t be surprised if next year’s budget talks become a public airing for many lawmakers’ discontent with the president’s new Afghanistan strategy. The Louisville Democrat says he opposes the plan.

“The president succeeded in making very few people happy,” says Yarmuth, “I think most of the democrats I’ve talked to don’t like the choice. I think they would have rather seen a winding down of activity there. Many of the republicans object to any kind of a timeline for withdrawal.”

But Yarmuth says there’s little Congress can do until funding for the military is put into the budget next year. A member of the House Budget Committee, Yarmuth says he thinks funding for the plan will be the focus of some contentious debate.

“I think there will be a great deal of resistance to funding this and I think it’s going to be a very interesting and contentious debate over whether or not and to what extent the country can afford to finance the policy that’s been decided upon,” says Yarmuth.

President Obama’s plan announced Tuesday night includes sending 30-thousand additional troops to Afghanistan, and beginning to withdraw troops by summer of 2011.

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From WFPL’s Haley Hart

Visitors to downtown Louisville over the next few days can sign a giant holiday greeting card for Kentucky National Guard troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

Guard Adjutant General Edward Tonini says the gesture is appreciated.

“The reaction has just been astounding. I mean, this is a, this is a big, bold statement of how much the people of Louisville care for people in uniform, and the sacrifices that they and their families are providing. I got to tell you that it really means a lot to these soldiers to get something like this.”

People can sign the card or send a personal greeting by visiting Metro Hall now through Friday’s Light Up Louisville celebration.

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U.S. Senator John McCain is calling on President Obama to make a quick decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.

During a Veterans Day talk at the University of Louisville’s McConnell Center, the Arizona Republican said the president has had three months to mull a request from his Afghanistan commander for reinforcements, and the slow deliberations are causing uneasiness among the military ranks and U.S.allies in the region.

“The worst thing we can do is have half measures that send our young men and women into harm’s way but are not sufficient resources and sufficent numbers in order to get the job done. I fear that more than a complete pullout.”

President Obama is considering a request for 40,000 additional troops in Afghanistan but says his decision won’t be rushed.

McCain also helped dedicate a new U of L archive housing the papers of Sen. Mitch McConnell and his wife, former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.

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