William Payne
Before retiring from his job as deputy director for the U.S. Central Command, Rear Admiral William Payne worked closely with General David Petraeus. His frequent travel to Afghanistan and Iraq has given him a unique perspective on the military situation on the ground there.
Earlier today, Payne, the state Senate minority whip and a Republican from Albuquerque, shared his thoughts with NMPolitics.net on the battle U.S. forces will have trying to stabilize the Afganistan’s government. His comments come days after President Obama announced a buildup of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGvvzZ6atjo[/youtube]
Payne, who also spoke about Afghanistan at an Albuquerque Kiwanis meeting, said he believes the additional troops will provide an opportunity for the Afghan government to create some institutional stability without the pressure of constant attacks. While he wasn’t predicting the outcome, Payne said the $30 billion cost of the increase in American soldiers is a price the country has to pay for national security.