WAVE 3 - Louisville, KYFt. Knox community reacts to President Obama's plan for Afghanistan

Ft. Knox community reacts to President Obama's plan for Afghanistan

By Maira Ansari - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

RADCLIFF, KY (WAVE) – Tuesday night, President Obama laid out his new strategy for Afghanistan. It includes sending an extra 30,000 American troops and many of those soldiers going will be leaving from Fort Knox. 

When soldiers come home, the feeling is overwhelming. But many families who have loved ones in the military will be saying their goodbyes once again as President Obama plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. 

"The more soldiers that are going over there to help out, it's a better chance for these guys to get home to their families and spend time with them," said Army Sgt. Larry Washington. "This is why I joined. I joined to fight wars, or to fight the Iraqi war. And now that they're at war in Afghanistan, I feel like I can play my part there also." 

"I myself haven't deployed yet," said Army Specialist Kevin Sterchi. "I just came in from prior service, but I'm definitely looking forward to serving my country any chance I get."

President Obama says the prime focus will be training Afghan forces. That strategy is not sitting well with some who have already served overseas.    

"We need to defend our country also, but help everyone else as we can," said James Patrick, a retired soldier. "But enough is enough." 

A longer war will not only cost U.S. taxpayers at least $30 billion, it will also cost more American lives.

"Bring them home," Patrick said. "Let that foreign country do their own thing. Let them take care of their own politics. We got our own problems." 

But for those who will soon be some of the boots on the ground putting the President's new strategy in motion, they hope their efforts and the lives that are put on the line will make a difference. 

"I think anything to better the peace of the world is a good thing," said Sterchi.

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