Inhofe Statement on Retaining US Troops in Afghanistan

Statement

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement on President Obama's decision to retain 8,400 U.S. Troops in Afghanistan through the end of his administration:

"While I welcome the president's decision to retain 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, his continued incremental withdrawal of U.S. troops is based on politics and not conditions on the ground. The president is now set to leave office with a concluding note of ambiguity, having failed to assure our allies and warn our enemies that our nation remains resolved in our commitment to Afghanistan and its people. He still has no strategy for the country or the region, and his original goal of completely withdrawing from Afghanistan proved to be short sighted and detrimental to our nation's security. I urge the president to clarify our nation's long-term strategic objectives and provide our commanders on the ground with the forces and the rules of engagement they need to achieve those objectives. This is what will truly give our military and Afghan partners the best opportunity to succeed in the war against terrorism, not only in Afghanistan but throughout the region."

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