A Surge in Afghanistan
December 2, 2009
‘Once we achieve our objectives — an Afghanistan that can defend itself, govern itself, control its borders, and remain an ally in the war on terror — then we can reasonably discuss withdrawal, a withdrawal based on conditions, not timelines’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the surge of forces in Afghanistan:
“The challenges of the ongoing war in Afghanistan are immense. But Americans believe in the mission. And they trust the advice of our commanders in the field to see that mission through.
“So I support the President’s decision to follow the advice of Generals Petraeus and McChrystal in ordering the same kind of surge in Afghanistan that helped turn the tide in Iraq.
“These additional forces will support a counterinsurgency strategy that will enable us to begin the difficult work of reversing the momentum of the Taliban and keeping it from power.
“The President is right to follow the advice of the generals in increasing troops, and he’s also right to focus on increasing the ability of the Afghanistan Security forces so they can protect themselves.
“By doing both, he’s made it possible for our forces to create the right conditions for Afghanistan to defend itself, create a responsible government, and remain an ally in the War on Terror.
“Although our forces are in Afghanistan to defend our own security interests, the people of Afghanistan must assume a greater burden in the future. The President’s plan recognizes that.
“Once we achieve our objectives — an Afghanistan that can defend itself, govern itself, control its borders, and remain an ally in the war on terror — then we can reasonably discuss withdrawal, a withdrawal based on conditions, not arbitrary timelines.
“But for now, we owe it to the American people, to those who died on 9/11, and to the many brave Americans who have already died on distant battlefields in this long and difficult struggle, to make sure that Afghanistan never again serves as a sanctuary for Al Qaeda. And we owe it to the men and women who are now deployed or who will soon be deployed to provide every resource they need to prevail.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the surge of forces in Afghanistan:
“The challenges of the ongoing war in Afghanistan are immense. But Americans believe in the mission. And they trust the advice of our commanders in the field to see that mission through.
“So I support the President’s decision to follow the advice of Generals Petraeus and McChrystal in ordering the same kind of surge in Afghanistan that helped turn the tide in Iraq.
“These additional forces will support a counterinsurgency strategy that will enable us to begin the difficult work of reversing the momentum of the Taliban and keeping it from power.
“The President is right to follow the advice of the generals in increasing troops, and he’s also right to focus on increasing the ability of the Afghanistan Security forces so they can protect themselves.
“By doing both, he’s made it possible for our forces to create the right conditions for Afghanistan to defend itself, create a responsible government, and remain an ally in the War on Terror.
“Although our forces are in Afghanistan to defend our own security interests, the people of Afghanistan must assume a greater burden in the future. The President’s plan recognizes that.
“Once we achieve our objectives — an Afghanistan that can defend itself, govern itself, control its borders, and remain an ally in the war on terror — then we can reasonably discuss withdrawal, a withdrawal based on conditions, not arbitrary timelines.
“But for now, we owe it to the American people, to those who died on 9/11, and to the many brave Americans who have already died on distant battlefields in this long and difficult struggle, to make sure that Afghanistan never again serves as a sanctuary for Al Qaeda. And we owe it to the men and women who are now deployed or who will soon be deployed to provide every resource they need to prevail.”
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