WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, both R-Utah, issued statements following Obama's speech.
"I feel like we're in the days of the Johnson administration -- with domestic spending out of control and military decisions being made in secret without Congress being fully informed," Bishop said.
"However, I want to give the President the benefit of the doubt and review his rationale.
"Ultimately, Congress has to make an independent judgment and when that takes place, over the course of the next few days, I want to give major deference to military leaders in the field. ...
"Regardless of the final plan, I will continue to work for adequate funding and additional resources for our troops, something I think the Administration and Congressional leaders have not adequately done."
In his statement, Hatch said Obama's plan "has not maximized our forces' chances of success. ... the President has handicapped our forces by failing to provide the number of troops requested by his hand-picked commander, General McChrystal. Also concerning, the President's plan appears to set arbitrary withdrawal deadlines. History shows withdrawal decisions must be determined by the conditions on the ground, not arbitrary deadlines.
"Coincidentally, the President's arbitrary deadline assumes the war will be winding down and troops returning home just when the Administration is ramping up its campaign for re-election."
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