Last night’s debate the issue of troop funding came up, and Senator Obama stated that he didn’t oppose funding the troops, but was instead opposing a strategy without a time line. However, it turns out his running-mate Senator Biden said that decision to oppose that particular troop funding bill would be, “cutting off support that will save the lives of thousands of American troops.” Biden reflects McCain’s sentiments that this was an irresponsible vote that could have endangered the safety of U.S. troops.
MCCAIN: It was a stratagem. And that same strategy will be employed in Afghanistan by this great general. And Senator Obama, who after promising not to vote to cut off funds for the troops, did the incredible thing of voting to cut off the funds for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
OBAMA: Jim, there are a whole bunch of things we have got to answer. First of all, let’s talk about this troop funding issue because John always brings this up. Senator McCain cut — Senator McCain opposed funding for troops in legislation that had a timetable, because he didn’t believe in a timetable.
I opposed funding a mission that had no timetable, and was open- ended, giving a blank check to George Bush. We had a difference on the timetable. We didn’t have a difference on whether or not we were going to be funding troops.
Filed under: Foreign Policy, McCain, Obama | Tagged: debate question, fud troops, funding cuts, iran iraq, support troops, troop funding
too bad funfing was not cut off