Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC Congressman McMahon On Obama's Afghanistan Plan
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 3, 2009
Modified Dec 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 3, 2009
Modified Dec 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While President Obama's proposal to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 is taking heat from both Republicans and Democrats, Rep. Mike McMahon (D-Staten Island and Brooklyn) told Gothamist that he strongly supports the plan.
The first term Conressman — who replaced scandal-tarnished Rep. Vito Fossella — said sending troops to Afghanistan is necessary today because of the failures of the Bush administration. "The mission for America and its allies after 9/11 was to stabilize Afghanistan and destroy Al Qaeda to make sure that they never again do what they did to us on 9/11. Unfortunately, the prior administration let us down," said McMahon, who is a member of the House's Foreign Affairs Committee. "Now we are back doing the job that we had to do originally. I think that the president is correct in doing that."
Though Democrats have criticized Obama for committing further resources to the war and Republican have scorned him for announcing an exit date, McMahon says the President was right on both counts — arguing that the troop surge is imperative to keep American safe, while claiming that dispute about the end date is "a red herring" for political rivals who would otherwise support the plan.
McMahon emphasized the importance of maintaining stability in Pakistan and pressuring other countries including India and China — but also Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan — to do more in the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He also sought to dispel any comparison between the situation in Afghanistan and the Vietnam War. "Although it feels similar, the historic parallels don't apply. The Vietcong were not using South Vietnam as a launching pad for world terror. If we allow Al Qaeda and the Taliban to take power again, then they will attack."
Tagged
afghanistan
military
obama
rep. mike mcmahon
staten island
surge
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Parks police told a yoga teacher to leash her dog. It got ugly.
Jurors ruled against Sabrina Toner, finding that the officers did not use excessive force.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 10:54 a.m. ET
Early Addition: There's finally stuff inside the Times Square tower where the ball drops
Because it used to sit vacant for most of the year, here are your early links: Rangers goalie scored, "It's a Wonderful Life" coming to Broadway, there's dignity in scaffolding and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: There's finally stuff inside the Times Square tower where the ball drops
Because it used to sit vacant for most of the year, here are your early links: Rangers goalie scored, "It's a Wonderful Life" coming to Broadway, there's dignity in scaffolding and more.
By
James Ramsay
NYC subway dragging death highlights an old school MTA failsafe
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
'We were the victim': Brooklyn shelter's new CEO speaks after corruption scandal
By
Ryan Kost
Badly burned body found in a trashed and abandoned Jamaica Queens lot, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .