U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, fired a broadside at Barack Obama's Afghanistan policy, announcing forcefully Tuesday that he opposes the president's decision to send 30,000 additional troops to the embattled Middle Eastern country.

Feingold, flanked by four members of the House of Representatives who share his views, told reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill that he disagrees with Obama's policy -- set to officially be revealed to the nation this evening during a televised prime time address -- even though he knows the president is doing what he thinks is right.

"This is a mistake, to move in the direction of a huge troop build-up," Feingold said. Obama, the senator added, "is doing what he thinks is right. We just disagree."

Feingold said he would consider pushing for several measures to stop Obama from fully implementing his new Afghanistan strategy. However, he said the Senate should not delay other matters, including the health care reform bill, to focus on the war.

"As far as I'm concerned, everything would be on the table to prevent this error from occurring," he said.

Feingold was also an ardent opponent of the Iraq war and the surge strategy employed by form President George W. Bush that followed.

UPDATE: Feingold's re-election campaign has sent an e-mail to supporters reiterating his position against the Afghanistan surge, and asking that they sign onto a petition advocating a flexible timetable for the withdrawal of American forces.

- David M. Drucker