PeteKing

New York members of Congress react to the Obama plan for Afghanistan

Staff Writer
Newsday
March 28, 2009

"I've been to Afghanistan and it is absolutely essential to America's national interest that we prevail in Afghanistan in the war against Islamic terrorism. I urge all Republicans to reach across party lines and support the President. I do not want Republicans to do what Democrats did to President Bush and undermine his policies."

- Rep. Peter King

(R-Seaford)

"It's been clear for years that the Bush Administration took its eye off the ball and allowed al-Qaida and the Taliban to regroup and rearm in Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan. For years, the fight against extremists has been undermanned, underfunded and lacked a coherent strategy. President Obama's new strategy recognizes those facts and moves aggressively to address them." - Rep. Gary Ackerman

(D-Roslyn Heights),
chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia

"I believe that the Obama Administration is taking the right steps by refocusing our attention and resources, appointing experienced ambassadors, and setting clear goals for our mission. If we coordinate closely with our allies, I believe we will be successful."

- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)

"I've traveled to Afghanistan many times and always believed that our fixation in Iraq was degrading our mission in Afghanistan ... We cannot afford to let the government of Afghanistan fall - not while Osama bin Laden is still at large and not when al-Qaida is still operating in Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan."

- Rep. Steve Israel

(D-Huntington)

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