December, 01 2009, 08:15pm EDT
Senator Sanders' Statement on Afghanistan
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made the following
statement after President Obama announced tonight that he will send 30,000
more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
"I
agree with President Obama that it would be a setback for democracy and
stability if the Taliban regained power, but I have serious concerns.
WASHINGTON
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made the following
statement after President Obama announced tonight that he will send 30,000
more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
"I
agree with President Obama that it would be a setback for democracy and
stability if the Taliban regained power, but I have serious concerns."First,
why are American taxpayers and our brave soldiers bearing almost all the
burden in what should be an international effort? Where are Europe, Russia,
China and the rest of the world? Second, why in the midst of a severe
recession - with 17 percent of our people unemployed or under-employed
and one out of four kids on food stamps - are we going to be spending
$100 billion a year on Afghanistan when we have so many pressing needs at
home? Third, I worry about how we can forge a dependable partnership with an
Afghan government that is ineffective and corrupt."My
nightmare is that we may get caught in a quagmire situation from which there
will be no successful exit."
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Democracy defenders on Tuesday hailed a ruling from a U.S. federal judge striking down a 19th-century North Carolina law criminalizing people who vote while on parole, probation, or post-release supervision due to a felony conviction.
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