Until now, few substantive policy disagreements separated Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate primary, but they have staked out opposite positions on President Obama's decision to put more troops in Afghanistan.
Specter, a former Republican who has received support from Obama, was among the first Democrats to come out against the increased U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan.
"I oppose sending 30,000 troops additional American troops to Afghanistan because I am not persuaded it is indispensible to our fight against Al Qaeda," Specter said in a statement releast Tuesday night. "If Al Qaeda can operate out of Yemen or Somalia, why fight in Afghanistan, where no one has succeeded?"
Specter continued: "It is unrealistic to expect the United States to be out in 18 months so there is really no exit strategy. This venture is not worth so many American lives or the billions it will add to our deficit."
Sestak, a former two-star admiral who has portrayed himself as being to Specter's left on most issues, endorsed the new strategy in a statement released about 45 minutes after the incumbent's.
"President Obama has presented a plan that will finally allow us to complete a mission that is as indispensible today as it was eight years ago: the elimination of the Al Qaeda terrorists who struck us on 9/11," Sestak said. "It is a difficult decision."
Sestak said he liked that the surge increase is not open-ended and he will look to make sure that there is enough emphasis on elminating extremist safe havens in neighboring Pakistan.
Curious to see how this will play with liberal activists in the Democratic base.
You're the watchdogs in the state capital and yet you did not report that two Rendell cabinet secretaries, Michael DiBerardinis and Kathleen McGinty, were judged by the state Supreme Court to have violated ethics laws by funneling state funds to their spouses' employers. Perhaps, when you review Rendell's legacy, you'll remember this little tidbit. Oh, and how were these two people punished for their transgressions? McGinty winds up with a high paying job influencing energy and environmental policies, and DiBerardinis is appointed as Parks and Recreation head by Philly Mayor Nutter. Ah, justice. No wonder citizens are fed up with government, politicians and any media that are complicit in covering up wrongdoing by such corrupt officials.— Parksguy
