Congressman
Peter Welch says the time has come for the United States to withdraw
virtually all of its troops from Afghanistan because President Obama’s
policy of "nation building"
has been a failure. Welch is teaming up with one of the most
conservative members of Congress to restrict funding for the war in Afghanistan.
A Marine from Danville, Vermont has died in fighting in
Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of Defense says
22-year-old Cpl. Ian M. Muller was killed Friday in combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
The
Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington is
homecoming central this week. National
Guard members are arriving by the planeload at Burlington International Airport as soldiers return from their deployment to Afghanistan. Thursday morning, 98 Guard members arrived to emotional greetings with
family, friends and military and political leaders.
Vermonters
are raising concerns about U-S military involvement overseas, but they consider
the economy the most pressing issue. The VPR Vermont Poll gauged public opinion on national
issues, as well as state political races. And by a wide margin, the results
indicate that the public remains focused on the economic downturn.
In many parts of the country, U.S. policy in Afghanistan has divided
Democrats and Republicans running for
Congress. But in Vermont, two of the three GOP candidates for Congress agree
with Democrat Peter Welch that it’s time to withdraw U.S. troops.
Norwich University freshman Ken Butler served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Three
years ago, on his last tour, Butler lost his right arm when his Humvee was hit by a
roadside bomb on the outskirts of Baghdad.
VPR’s Jane Lindholm talks with Brigadier
General Jonathan Farnham, who will be
heading up the newly created Afghan
National Security Forces Development Assistance Bureau about his new post.