Udall, Luján skeptical of troop buildup

Reactions from New Mexico’s congressional delegation were mixed following President Barack Obama’s announcement of his plan to send an additional 30,000 American soldiers to Afghanistan. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Rep. Ben Ray Luján said they aren’t convinced the president made the right decision.

You can watch Obama’s speech here, or read the full text of it here. In short, Obama said the process of increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan to about 100,000 will begin this month. The troop buildup will cost $30 billion in the first year. Obama pledged to begin withdrawing American soldiers from Afghanistan in 18 months.

Here are the full statements released by members of the New Mexico delegation following Obama’s speech:

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

“For most of the time since 2001, the United States has not had a coherent strategy for the war in Afghanistan. Until now we have had an open-ended commitment of troops and resources, to achieve a goal that has not been clearly defined,” Bingaman said.

“Tonight, President Obama outlined a plan that he believes will successfully end the war in Afghanistan,” he said.

“I am eager to learn the details of how the additional troops will be used, and look forward to congressional hearings in the coming days,” Bingaman added.

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

“I appreciate President Obama’s thoughtful and deliberative approach in both determining and explaining the path forward in Afghanistan. He obviously inherited a very complex situation as president,” Udall said. “Fighting two costly wars and determining the best course of action is not an easy task to undertake.”

“Throughout the process that has led to the president’s decision, I have expressed my concerns surrounding the strategy in Afghanistan. I do not believe our commitment there should be open-ended,” he said. “It should be an Afghan-led effort. And with the widespread government corruption we have seen — especially in the recent election — I do not believe we have a reliable partner in this effort.”

“While the president and his administration are beginning to address these concerns, I remain unconvinced that sending an additional 30,000 American troops into harm’s way improves the situation or advances our national security interests in the region,” Udall said. “Although skeptical, I remain eager to learn the rationale for this strategy in Afghanistan as the plan and its details are explored through committee testimony and debate in the days and weeks to come.”

U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M.

“For too long, our goals of rooting out Al Qaeda and returning Afghanistan to an independent nation that no longer is a threat to our national security were put on hold due to our involvement in Iraq,” Teague said. “Tonight’s announcement represents a renewed focus on Afghanistan that is tied to clear parameters and benchmarks. I am particularly encouraged to see a commitment to training Afghan security forces and stabilizing the area so we can begin to draw down troops as early as 2011.”

“However, I would have liked to see him talk more about our plan for the large number of troops that will be returning home from this war,” Teague said. “We learned from the last administration the dangers of not planning for the health care of new veterans, and I’m going to be doing my best to make sure that President Obama doesn’t forget that lesson. As we move forward in Afghanistan, my highest priority and responsibility will be to ensure that our service members have the equipment and backup they need to succeed in their mission and make it back to us safely.”

U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

“Tonight, President Obama articulated both the necessary resources and a clear strategy to accomplish our goals in Afghanistan and the region. This is a critical step forward, and frankly, it should have taken place years ago,” Heinrich said.

“We must continue to reach out to the international community for an increased commitment to defeat al Qaeda and stabilize the region,” he said. “The Afghan government must also step up its own work and assume greater responsibility for securing its people.”

“With an established mission and defined goals, I am reassured that our brave men and women in uniform will succeed,” Heinrich said.

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.

“I share the administration’s goals of disrupting and defeating Al Qaeda and keeping our country safe, and I am encouraged that President Obama outlined his clear strategy,” Luján said. “However, I remain concerned about committing more troops to Afghanistan.”

“In August, I traveled to Afghanistan and met with several U.S. and Afghan officials to discuss how the United States can successfully bring the war to an end and help the people of Afghanistan. Based on these discussions, it is clear that the people of Afghanistan must come together to take responsibility for their country by strengthening Afghan forces and police and addressing corruption in government,” he said. “Furthermore, there must be an emphasis and commitment to humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, as we cannot lose sight of the importance of human rights, including women’s rights, in Afghanistan.”

“While I am concerned about troop increases, I will continue to support the men and women of our Armed Forces. And I thank them for their service,” Luján said.