Udall Outlines Concerns About Afghanistan

Fresh back from his trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan with a bi-partisan delegation of Congress members, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall on Tuesday told New Mexico reporters that he remains deeply skeptical about President Obama's decision to escalate the war.

"I'm concerned with the reliability of our partner in the region," Udall said at the outset of a teleconference. "It's a tremendous human, military and financial cost of an open-ended commitment. Therefore I remain skeptical of a continued build-up. I'm unconvinced that sending 30,000 more troops into harm's way improves the situation or advances our national security interests."

Udall did a teleconference last week while he was still in Afghanistan. He said at the time that he remained skeptical about the escalation, but said he didn't want to go into detail with his criticisms until he got back on U.S. soil.

Read my story HERE. And to hear a recording of the teleconference, CLICK HERE

Udall In Afghanistan

I just got off a conference call with Sen. Tom Udall who is on a trip to Afghanistan with a delegation of Congress members.

He said he and the others have met with a number of officials over there including Afghan President Karzai and General Stanley McChrystal.

Karzai, the senator says, denies he threatened to join the Taliban if he was pressured by his foreign backers.

Udall also said he remains skeptical about the war effort in Afghanistan but declined to talk in detail about his doubts until he returns home next week.

Of Karzai's alleged Taliban statement, Udall said, "He said his remark was misconstrued," Udall said. "I take him at his word."

Udall said the main thrust of the meeting with Karzai, Udall said was to stress the need for Karzai to "get rid of corruption" and to appoint competent people to government posts. In Afghanistan the president has the power to appoint officials all the way down to local levels.

He also said Karzai should address the American people, perhaps in the form of an in-depth interview with an American journalist, to talk about the partnership between the two countries.

Udall said the delegation met with several American military members, including two military security men aboard a plane who had been stationed at Holloman Air Base near Alamogordo. He also met with a Sgt. Reyes, helping with an agricultural project in Afghanistan, who has family in this state. These men all received gifts of pinon-flavored coffee and red and green chile jerky.

In Udall's delegation are Sens. John Ensign, R-Nev.; Scott Brown, R-Mass.; and Tom Carper, D-Del.; as well as Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va.

Udall said he's heading home on Sunday.