Kerry: Obama would be "irresponsible" to send more troops to Afghanistan now [View All]

Kerry: Obama would be "irresponsible" to send more troops to Afghanistan now


Posted: October 17th, 2009 03:09 PM ET

From CNN Associate Political Producer Emily Sherman


Sen. Kerry cautioned President Obama against raising troop levels in Afghanistan until after the Afghan election is finalized in the country.
WASHINGTON (CNN)– Sen. John Kerry cautioned President Obama Saturday against raising troop levels in Afghanistan, saying it would be "entirely irresponsible" to do so while the Afghan government remains in turmoil following national elections.

"It would be entirely irresponsible for the president of the United States to commit more troops to this country, when we don't even have an election finished and know who the president is and what kind of government we're working in, with," Kerry told CNN's John King in an interview set to air Sunday at 9 a.m. on State of The Union.

Speaking from Afghanistan, Kerry, who is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. should listen to the advice of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in that country.

"When our own, you know, commanding general tells us that a critical component of achieving our mission here is, in fact, good governance, and we're living with a government that we know has to change and provide it, how could the president responsibly say, oh, they asked for more, sure, here they are?," Kerry said.