Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I enjoy Illinois

All hail the Illinois Senate:

Illinois Senate takes stand against Afghanistan war

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. May 12 (AP) - The Illinois Senate has jumped into the deep water of foreign policy by passing a resolution that criticizes President Barack Obama's plan to step up military efforts in Afghanistan.

The resolution calls for the United States to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan rather than send more, as Obama plans to do.

"The people of the United States have indicated that this war has gone on long enough," says the resolution, which passed last week. "The Senate believes that it is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Afghanistan."

This puts state senators at odds with Obama, who once served in the Illinois Senate, and with public opinion.

Polls show strong support for Obama's plan to send an additional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan despite some frustration with the length of the war... (link)
Of course, the population of Illinois is largely made up of Chicagoans - some 85% of the state's population lives there I believe. It thus an urban as well as a Democratic state.

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