Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says that President Trump’s decision to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan is a “terrible idea” that will leave more families with lost or injured love ones and add to the trillions of dollars that American taxpayers have already funneled into the 16-year-old war.
In an op-ed for the Hill, Mr. Paul, a Republican, said Congress must vote to revise the war authorization approved after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, while calling attempts at nation-building a “fool’s errand,” and lamenting that Mr. Trump is missing a chance to show more “guts” to end the military adventurism.
“So I strongly disagree with the administration’s actions here. I’ve spoken to the president, and I know he wants to end this war. We’ve all heard him say it. But talk won’t get it done,” Mr. Paul said. “Although I’ve been informed that the president rejected larger expansions of troops than the one announced this week, that’s not good enough.”
“He should have rejected this one and stuck to his principles. He knows this war is over, and he – unlike the last two presidents – should have the guts to end it for real, on his watch,” he said.
Mr. Trump announced Monday that he will be sending 4,000 more troops into Afghanistan.
“We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Paul has often found himself out of sync with defense hawks in his party.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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