Several Virginians offered up their thoughts to President Barack Obama’s national address last night on Afghanistan, and I’m glad they did as I missed the speech entirely watching the NHL Awards and spending time with my family.
Here’s a sampling:
“Like many Americans, I anxiously await the day when we can safely welcome our men and women in uniform home from Afghanistan. But after visiting our troops in theatre last month and seeing firsthand the progress that has been made, I am especially interested to know how the troop withdrawal timeline announced tonight will affect recent hard-won gains as well as impact our remaining troops left fighting the Taliban. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, I will be closely exercising oversight of the Administration’s drawdown plan to ensure that that our strategy in Afghanistan has been and will be determined by facts on the ground and the national security interests of the United States, not by political calculations.” – Congressman Randy Forbes
“I am concerned that our objectives in Afghanistan, especially with regard to troop levels, are being driven by math and politics, not military strategy. I believe we must listen to our commanders on the ground, to ensure that we do not reverse the fragile progress that has been made against those who wish to do us harm. Ultimately, we must act in the best interest of the safety of our troops and the security of this nation.” – Congressman Rob Wittman
“…I’ve long held the view that it is unnecessary and unwise to announce, in advance, changes in troop levels – especially reductions in troop levels.
“As Commander-in-Chief, it is the President’s responsibility to chart a path forward in Afghanistan that, at the earliest point in time, shifts full responsibility for security to the Afghan government.
“Endemic corruption, deep tribal loyalties that often trump national identity, and a continuously porous border with Pakistan make that transition an exceptional challenge.
“What must not be compromised in the days ahead is this strategic imperative: we must continuously disrupt Al Qaeda’s ability to plan, train for, and execute terrorist attacks from Afghanistan.” – Congressman Scott Rigell
Update: Rep. Rigell also appeared this morning on C-SPAN to talk about the president’s plan:
“While I commend the President for honoring his commitment to bring home 10,000 of our troops by year’s end and an additional 33,000 by next summer, I remain concerned about what our nation’s underlying role should be in Afghanistan. Our primary objective since September 11, 2001 was to capture or kill Osama Bin laden and to defeat Al Qaeda. Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan and there are only a few dozen Al Qaeda left in Afghanistan, so it makes very little sense to maintain tens of thousands of our troops in Afghanistan.” – Congressman Bobby Scott
It is time that we recognize that America’s mission in Afghanistan must be laser-focused on killing and capturing terrorists who threaten America and America’s interests and destroy terrorist safe havens. We must pursue, capture and kill terrorists. These terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan directly threaten America, and they also threaten stability in a region that includes a nuclear-armed Pakistan and an Iranian regime that is aggressively pursuing nuclear weapons, all of which pose a threat to our national security. However, we cannot afford – in terms of treasure, or more importantly, in terms of lives – to engage in nation-building.” -Jamie Radtke, U.S. Senate candidate
“Tonight’s announcement marks an important step for the United States in the global war against terrorism – a step that would not have been possible without the strategy employed by President Obama to dismantle al Qaeda’s senior leadership and eliminate the organization’s central command. I commend the President, our military leaders and the troops who carried out those missions, including the extraordinary Virginia Beach-based Navy SEALS responsible for capturing and killing Osama bin Laden, for a job well done.” -Former Governor Tim Kaine, U.S. Senate candidate
