I HAVE, IN THE PAST, E-MAILED MRS PELOSI AND MRS FEINSTEN TO ASK THEM TO PLEASE BRING OUR TROOPS HOME. . .

I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO BOTH LADIES, WHO REPRESENT ME IN WASHINGTON DC,
THAT MY CONTINUED REQUESTS ARE NOT QUESTIONS SEEKING TO BE ANSWERED ABOUT WHY WE ARE
IN A WAR, OR WHETHER THEY SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT, OR ANYONE ELSE, OR WHO IS CONSIDERED A THREAT TO US OR OUR ALLIES, OR EVEN THAT I'M 'INTERESTED' IN A WAR
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THESE E-MAILS ARE POLITE REQUESTS FOR THESE LADIES TO EXERT THE INFLUENCE THEY HAVE IN CONGRESS TO PERSUADE WHOMEVER IT IS NEEDS PERSUADING TO END THIS WAR
I WISH THEM A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON TOO, I GUESS THEY ARE LUCKIER THAN MOST WHO'LL HAVE NEITHER, AND I'M SURE 2010 WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER YEAR FOR ALL, IF THE TROOPS
WERE BROUGHT BACK, THANK YOU

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein responding to your message

Dear Mr. Carneiro:

Thank you for writing to express your concern about continued U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. I appreciate hearing from you on this topic, and welcome the opportunity to respond.

On December 1, 2009 President Obama announced that he will deploy an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to quell a resurgence of the Taliban and regain the initiative against terrorists operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This will be a short-term, high-intensity effort, with a majority of new American troops focusing on training Afghan National Security Forces and securing local populations. Further, the President indicated his intention to start drawing down troop levels in July 2011, pending the outcome of a security review at the end of 2010.

I support the President's plan, which is consistent with the recommendations laid out by General Stanley McChrystal. It has been carefully deliberated by senior officials in the Administration, including the President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It recognizes the severity of the situation, calls for strong cooperation from NATO partners, and avoids an open-ended commitment of troops.

I believe strongly that Taliban forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan, al Qaeda, the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and other extremist groups represent a real and significant threat to the security of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unchecked, they threaten the United States and our allies as well. The plan put forward represents the most credible effort to reverse the Taliban's gains and deny terrorists a safe haven, while giving the Afghan people the best chance for security and opportunity over the long term.

While we do not necessarily agree on this issue, be assured that your views are important to me, and I will keep them in mind as Congress continues to discuss the most appropriate course for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.

Again, thank you for writing. I hope you will continue to write on matters of importance to you. If you should have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Also, may I take this opportunity to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. And may 2010 be a good year for us all.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup.