Oklahomans Concerned about Potential Troop Surge in Afghanistan

President Obama is trying to decide if more troops should be sent Afghanistan on the eight-year anniversary of the war against the country. But this has some Oklahomans worried, and a troop surge now may not be a popular decision.

Wednesday, October 7th 2009, 6:28 pm

By: News 9


By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- President Obama is trying to decide if more troops should be sent Afghanistan on the eight-year anniversary of the war against the country. But this has some Oklahomans worried, and a troop surge now may not be a popular decision.

It will be a tough sell because Afghanistan is not the same country it was when U.S. troops first entered the country 8-years-ago.

President Obama is trying to figure out just what the war strategy will be as the war in Afghanistan enters its ninth year and if he'll send 40,000 more troops to the country.

"It is a difficult sell anytime you talk about escalating a war when things aren't going well to begin with. It could be problematic," said Shad Satterthwaite.

Shad Satterthwaite is an OU professor and an Oklahoma National Guardsman. He spent a year in Afghanistan training the Afghan army.

"At that time, the Taliban was not as active as they are now. In fact, at the time we were over there between 2003 and 2004 a lot of the attention was in Iraq and we could make the comment we would rather be in Afghanistan than Iraq," Satterthwaite said.

But the area has changed and that may not be the case now. The Taliban has recently upped their attacks on American soldiers. Oklahoma troops have not received word if they'll be part of a possible surge.

"It's really impossible to speculate. We'll continue to train and prepare troops for all contingencies and whatever we are asked to do we will do," said Lt. Colonel Max Moss with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

Many are anxiously awaiting President Obama's decision.

"It's not something you want to do too hastily, but on the other hand something has to be done fairly soon. The Taliban are training and becoming more bold as each day goes on," Satterthwaite said.

Sixty members of an Oklahoma Army National Guard special unit will head to Afghanistan later in the month, but their mission is to help farmers redevelop their agriculture.

The President is getting reaction from both sides of the aisle, top Republicans are asking Obama to act quickly, but some Democrats are against a large troop surge.

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