Feingold fears Afghan troop buildup could worsen situation

[PeaceNikki]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/usandworld/41974982.html

By Craig Gilbert of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Mar. 27, 2009 10:32 a.m.

Washington - Sen. Russ Feingold said Friday he feared that the troop buildup in Afghanistan ordered by President Barack Obama could "make the situation worse, not better."

Feingold, who was a vocal critic of the Iraq war, stopped short of expressing outright opposition to the increase in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.

But the Wisconsin Democrat said a military escalation in Afghanistan could de-stabilize neighboring Pakistan, which he termed a much bigger potential security problem for the United States than Afghanistan.

"The problem is if you do this wrong, with too much emphasis on Afghanistan and not enough on Pakistan, you may be creating greater radicalization (in the region)," Feingold, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview. "In the end, Pakistan is more dangerous than Afghanistan.  . . .  I do think we're kind of putting the cart before the horse."

Obama on Friday ordered 4,000 more troops into Afghanistan, in addition to the 17,000 he approved adding earlier.

"I am not convinced that makes sense. It may be counterproductive," said Feingold, referring to the possible spillover effects of the buildup on Pakistan, where militants and terrorists have occupied safe havens along the border and where violence has also been on the rise. The bloodiest attack in Pakistan occurred Friday when a suicide bomber struck a mosque near the Afghan border, killing at least 48.

In a separate statement, Feingold praised aspects of the Afghanistan strategy review outlined by the president Friday: "Specific benchmarks for progress in Afghanistan, with a strong emphasis on fighting corruption in the Afghan government, and an increase in civilian assistance."

Feingold credited the administration with the "beginnings of the necessary emphasis on the even greater problems in Pakistan."

But he said "the proposed military escalation in Afghanistan, without an adequate strategy in Pakistan, could make the situation worse, not better."

[gizmo1979]

1. I like Russ

I live in WI.I think he's struggling to be relevant.He can't seem to find his niche and he's all over the place.