Feingold Worries About the Surge Destabilizing Pakistan « The Washington Independent

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) reiterated his long-standing concern that surging U.S. troops in Afghanistan will destabilize Pakistan. Why can’t the Pakistanis move more decisively against extremists if our surge places pressure on their side of the border?

Gen. David Petraeus replied that he hears from his Pakistani counterparts that “you can only stick so many short sticks into so many hornets’ nests at one time.” He pledges that Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s campaign of both military pressure on the insurgency in Afghanistan and support for Afghan reconciliation efforts will provide “a catcher’s mitt or an anvil,” as the situation warrants.