(Updates x 2) New Mexico Members of Congress Respond to Obama's Afghanistan Speech

Update 2: See my later post that recaps a phone conversation I had with Rep. Martin Heinrich about his take on the Afghanistan speech.
*************
Update 1: Despite asking Rep. Martin Heinrich's office for a statement, I haven't gotten a response yet. He said something positive about Obama's plan to the Albuquerque Journal but I haven't seen anything else. I did just receive a statement from Rep. Harry Teague on the speech:

“For too long, our goals of rooting out Al Qaeda and returning Afghanistan to an independent nation that no longer is a threat to our national security were put on hold due to our involvement in Iraq. Tonight’s announcement represents a renewed focus on Afghanistan that is tied to clear parameters and benchmarks. I am particularly encouraged to see a commitment to training Afghan security forces and stabilizing the area so we can begin to draw down troops as early as 2011.

However, I would have liked to see him talk more about our plan for the large number of troops that will be returning home from this war. We learned from the last administration the dangers of not planning for the health care of new veterans, and I’m going to be doing my best to make sure that President Obama doesn’t forget that lesson. As we move forward in Afghanistan my highest priority and responsibility will be to ensure that our service members have the equipment and backup they need to succeed in their mission and make it back to us safely.”
*************
We received the following statements from our members of Congress tonight responding to President Obama's speech on Afghanistan. If and when I receive more, I'll add them.

Senator Tom Udall:
“I appreciate President Obama’s thoughtful and deliberative approach in both determining and explaining the path forward in Afghanistan. He obviously inherited a very complex situation as president. Fighting two costly wars and determining the best course of action is not an easy task to undertake.

“Throughout the process that has led to the president’s decision, I have expressed my concerns surrounding the strategy in Afghanistan. I do not believe our commitment there should be open-ended. It should be an Afghan-led effort. And with the widespread government corruption we have seen – especially in the recent election – I do not believe we have a reliable partner in this effort.

“While the president and his administration are beginning to address these concerns, I remain unconvinced that sending an additional 30,000 American troops into harm’s way improves the situation or advances our national security interests in the region. Although skeptical, I remain eager to learn the rationale for this strategy in Afghanistan as the plan and its details are explored through committee testimony and debate in the days and weeks to come.”

Senator Jeff Bingaman:
“For most of the time since 2001, the United States has not had a coherent strategy for the war in Afghanistan. Until now we have had an open-ended commitment of troops and resources, to achieve a goal that has not been clearly defined. Tonight, President Obama outlined a plan that he believes will successfully end the war in Afghanistan. I am eager to learn the details of how the additional troops will be used, and look forward to Congressional hearings in the coming days.”

Rep. Ben Ray Luján:
“I share the administration’s goals of disrupting and defeating Al Qaeda and keeping our country safe, and I am encouraged that President Obama outlined his clear strategy. However, I remain concerned about committing more troops to Afghanistan.

"In August, I traveled to Afghanistan and met with several U.S. and Afghan officials to discuss how the United States can successfully bring the war to an end and help the people of Afghanistan. Based on these discussions, it is clear that the people of Afghanistan must come together to take responsibility for their country by strengthening Afghan forces and police and addressing corruption in government. Furthermore, there must be an emphasis and commitment to humanitarian and diplomatic efforts as we cannot lose sight of the importance of human rights, including women's rights, in Afghanistan.

"While I am concerned about troop increases, I will continue to support the men and women of our Armed Forces. And I thank them for their service.”

The statement from Rep. Luján also included the following information about his actions and views on Afghanistan prior to tonight's speech:

"In September, Rep. Luján and 57 of his colleagues sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reject a troop increase.

"In August, Rep. Luján visited Afghanistan, speaking with officials including General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, a United States diplomat to Afghanistan.

"In June, Rep. Luján voted in favor of an amendment that would have required the Secretary of Defense to provide Congress, by the end of the year, with an outline of its exit strategy for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. The amendment was considered as part of the FY 2010 National Defense Authorizations Act (H.R. 2647). The amendment failed by a vote of 138 to 278. There was a similar standalone bill introduced earlier by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), HR 2402, which Rep. Luján cosponsored."