Middle East, Energy and Military Dominate Himes' Town Hall Meeting

The federal deficit, the U.S. overseas military policy, burgeoning gas prices and nuclear energy were just some of the topics discussed Monday night, as U.S. Rep. Jim Himes held a meeting with more than 100 residents in Greenwich.

The Democrat from the Cos Cob section of Greenwich said he has “had an evolution” regarding the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan.

“I am increasingly adamant that we are not going to change the country. We have a very ugly partner with Karzai and his people,” Himes said. “I take the President at his word he will begin withdrawing troops this summer … because of the cost to our society both human and monetary, and the lack of success” in the region.

However, Himes said the United States “must retain the ability to maintain a military presence in the region. We should have two military bases in Afghanistan and leave the rest of the country to Afghanistan.”

Himes, who is in his second term as congressman representing southwestern Connecticut, is equally opposed to sending troops to quell the chaos in Libya. “I do not support sending troops to Libya. When I heard the news … my reaction was ‘Oh my God, country # 3 in the Middle East,’ “ Himes said. “I want us out.”

He said his criticism of using U.S. planes in the region “is muted but I want us out ASAP.”

The Middle East continued to dominate the written questions audience members submitted to the who hosted the program.

Himes said blame for the skyrocketing oil prices that greet consumers at the pump with daily price increases should not be laid at the footsteps of financial speculators and the troubles in the Middle East.

“We are being held hostage of the foreign oil markets. We have neglected having an energy policy,” Himes said. “China and India are fast becoming middle class economies and are buying up the (oil) reserves.”

Energy alternatives are necessary, he said. Himes said he would like to see how the massive Marcellus Shale natural gas supplies in Pennsylvania and New York can be tapped.

Himes said that while he supports the use of nuclear energy, he would not support the location of the Indian Point power plant in Buchanan, NY, if it were to be built today in a densely populous region with 20 million residents. “You have to remember it produces 30 percent of the electricity for New York City, so closing it is not a near-term solution,” Himes explained. “It (closing) should be a middle-term solution. It belongs somewhere like a rural Pennsylvania but then you will (still) face the NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) issue.”

On the home front, Himes said he believes “there is a reasonable chance we will produce a budget plan” that is acceptable and has “fiscal sustainability.” He said that the $800 billion military budget cannot be held harmless during budget deliberations, and neither can another $500 billion in discretionary spending.

However, he said, “we must be very, very careful not to cut the necessities – we need investment in our infrastructure.” Himes said government must invest in its future to insure Social Security and Medicare for future generations while preserving those benefits for aging baby boomers and their parents. He also said taxpayers must be willing to invest in the educational system so that the United States can regain its posture in the world arena of research, development an technology.