Strongly supports President Obama's decision to commit 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan

(Washington, DC) – Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA, 8th District) issued the following statement tonight following President Obama’s address on the United States’ continued commitment to Afghanistan:

“I strongly support President Obama for his decision to commit 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. He has listened to our military leaders on the ground, and has decided, along with our military commanders and civilian leadership, to pursue a strategy that ensures our brave men and women serving overseas have the resources and plan to dismantle, disrupt, and defeat Al Qaeda.

“With these additional troops, our service members and allies can continue to root out and kill the Al Qaeda terrorists who murdered 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001, and prevent them from destabilizing Pakistan and obtaining nuclear weapons.”

Congressman Murphy was the first veteran of the Iraq War elected to Congress. He served in Al Rashid, Baghdad with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in 2003 and 2004, and has been calling for a redeployment from Iraq and an increased military and civilian focus on Afghanistan since 2005.

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For Immediate Release, December 1, 2009
Contact: Kate Hansen (202) 225-4276