Monday, October 26, 2009
10:52 AM
Feingold questions troop increase, blasts Cheney
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold said Sunday that President Obama would have problems with the American public if he commits to a 40,000 troop increase in Afghanistan, but said the president is right to be careful in making "one of the toughest decisions I've ever seen a president have to make."
Feingold, D-Middleton, appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" following fellow U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. McCain -- a frequent collaborator with Feingold on campaign finance issues -- said Democrats would have problems with a proposed troop increase.
"It's not about one party," Feingold responded. "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 has opposed the troop increase floated by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, and has called for a flexible timetable for U.S. troops to leave the war-torn nation entirely.
He added that recent comments made by former Vice President Dick Cheney on Afghanistan were "terrible."
"It's too early on Sunday for dancing. So let me just say I think what the vice president said was terrible," Feingold said. "The notion that President Obama is 'dithering'? He's doing his job."
Feingold also addressed health care reform, reiterating that it would be difficult for him to accept any proposal without a public health insurance option.
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