MONROE – The issues of the US dealing with Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran are complex ones, but this country should deal from a position of strength, according to Gary Berntsen, a career CIA officer who was the commander of all CIA forces in East Afghanistan at the end of 2001.

Berntsen was in Monroe Sunday evening speaking at a reception for the Greg Ball for Congress campaign. Ball, a Republican, is challenging Democratic Congressman John Hall for the 19th District seat next year.

Berntsen said regardless of which Middle Eastern country we are deal with, the US must be tough.

“You need to act from a position of strength and the argument on the Republican side is that it’s better to act and be tough with some of these folks,” he said. “We need to negotiate but we need to negotiate from a point of strength here and not be in a hurry to be apologizing for being Americans or pursuing American goals.”

Berntsen, a conservative Republican, said President Obama campaigned on Afghanistan not understanding Afghanistan, but he said the president has surrounded himself with many good people in the White House to lead the country in the issues of the Middle East.