Both sides unhappy with Afghan plan

More than eight years after it began, the war in Afghanistan is still raging. Once again, the political debate is heating up about whether the U.S. should send more troops.

"I would like to see 40,000 troops committed to Afghanistan," said Harold Grimes, a veteran of Korea and Vietnam.

"I don't feel like there's any reason to be there," countered Barbara Hoffman, a member of the Fox Valley Peace Coalition.

On Tuesday, President Obama is expected to announce as many as 35,000 more troops will be sent to Afghanistan. That's 5,000 less than his top general requested, but more than Barbara Hoffman would like to see.

"We would like to see an end to that war and bring those troops home," Hoffman said Sunday. Hoffman has been a peace activist for 43 years.

"I feel really sad that our soldiers are being asked to go over there into a situation that they can't win," Hoffman said.

Meanwhile, Grimes criticized the president for taking too long to make a decision about Afghanistan.

"Indecision is not something we can afford here," Grimes said.

Grimes said by sending fewer troops than the military commanders are requesting the president is making the wrong decision.

"That would be piece mealing," Grimes said. "I don't think that would get the job done. I think if we're going to do it we have to commit. If we can't commit then let's get the heck out of there."

Hoffman would love to see the troops leave. But she's not holding out much hope for that to happen anytime soon.

"I'm no longer hopeful that the result I would like to see and the peace movement would like to see is going to come about," Hoffman said.

One thing both sides have in common: neither is pleased with the direction the war appears to be headed.

FOX 11 will carry President Obama's announcement live Tuesday night at 7 pm.