News for the Ninth - 12.11.2009

As our brave men and women in uniform head to Afghanistan to pursue a broad counterinsurgency strategy to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaeda, we as Americans must support those efforts to the best of our ability. Although they are fighting a long way from our soil, they truly are protecting our freedoms and liberties here at home.

Because of their efforts against al-Qaeda terrorists and the Taliban in Afghanistan and along the border with Pakistan, it is my sincere belief that U.S. troops are denying al-Qaeda and the Taliban safe havens in which to operate.  I am also committed to ensuring that our troops have the equipment and support they need in order to do their jobs in the most effective manner possible.

Since last week, I have publicly supported the president’s decision to deploy 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan— but I also have questions as to whether this fully resources our mission and mitigates risks to the security of our forces.  Although the president failed to define success with regards to our efforts, I believe success in Afghanistan can be defined as a stable country that denies the Taliban and al-Qaeda a safe haven to launch attacks against the Afghan people, Afghanistan’s neighbors, and the United States and our allies.

Of course, this is a very complex issue. I and many of my colleagues are concerned about whether the president is providing sufficient U.S. forces in order to achieve success in Afghanistan while building the Afghan National Security Forces to a level necessary to sustain security gains achieved by U.S. and NATO troops.  Our military commanders in Afghanistan must be given the time and resources to achieve victory. I am concerned by reports of an already-defined “exit strategy” or “endgame” before we’ve provided our commanders with more troops and resources to help achieve success, and whether this signals to the Taliban and al-Qaeda that they can run out the “Washington clock.” 

At this critical time following six months of delays, the president as commander-in-chief has the responsibility to rally the American people and Congress behind his strategy and our troops’ mission in Afghanistan.

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with our troops, and during the Christmas season I ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless the United States of America.