Ron Johnson Approves Of Troop Reductions In Afghanistan, But Criticizes Obama’s Timing

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) says he does not disagree with President Barack Obama’s decision to ramp down U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, but he says the president could have timed his announcement better.

The president announced this week that the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be reduced to 9,800 after this year, and that only a very small force would remain in the country by 2016.

Asked about the president’s announcement, Johnson did not criticize the plan to leave Afghanistan. He did, however, criticize the way it was introduced, saying that the timing could complicate the nation-building process.

“I’m always concerned about this president’s timing,” said Johnson. “I mean they had an election, they had a runoff, there’s going to be a new president of Afghanistan. I don’t know why the president wouldn’t have waited.”

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) said on Wednesday she supported the president’s plan.