By Julianna Parker
University of Oklahoma President David Boren disagreed with President Barack Obama's decision to send more U.S. troops to fight in Afghanistan.
Boren announced his disagreement Tuesday by issuing a statement to be released after Obama made his announcement that evening. Boren listed several reasons the U.S. should not focus new efforts on the war in Afghanistan.
"While I understand the pressures on the president, history indicates that attempts to occupy Afghanistan have been unsuccessful and have exacted a heavy human and financial toll on those who have tried it," Boren said. "I am gravely concerned about the added pressure which escalation will place on our armed forces and feel that we must not keep sending the same soldiers into harm's way through multiple overseas combat assignments."
He also said he was worried that the burden of paying for the escalation in Afghanistan in the fragile U.S. economy would lead to higher budget deficits.
Boren said the views he expressed were solely his personal views as a private citizen.
Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
