Safer but Not Safe: Fighting the War on Terrorism

Safer but Not Safe: Fighting the War on Terrorism

Recently, I traveled to Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. I was there to visit our troops, especially those from Ohio, and to receive an update on the progress in the war on terror being fought in Afghanistan. This was my second trip to Afghanistan and the first opportunity to visit a forward operating base and meet with the Army Special Forces located there. I visited with the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion at Bagram Air Base and the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing at Manas Air Base. Both are active on their respective bases and outside their bases providing assistance in infrastructure projects.

One of the soldiers I had the opportunity to visit with worked as a staff assistant in my office early in my first term. He decided to join the National Guard in August 2003 and completed his special forces training in 2005. His unit will finish its first deployment to Afghanistan this year. As I mentioned to a group of Airmen from Ohio, the U.S. military is unique in that we do not fight to conquer new territory or to obtain natural resources. Our goal is to foster democracy and create supportive, inclusive communities for people.

It was very enlightening to visit a forward location and listen to the soldiers explain the day-to-day challenges they face. Afghanistan is a unique situation in that there is a very limited infrastructure, which poses difficulties for coalition troop operations. The troops expend considerable effort working on civil affairs projects to demonstrate to the Afghanis that their democratically elected government and the coalition forces are there to provide medical assistance, build schools, water treatment and sewage removal facilities. These types of projects are important to build positive relationships between nations and people. By comparison, the Taliban provided nothing for the people of Afghanistan, except for destruction and oppression.

NATO is slowly assuming control of Afghanistan military operations as it recently took command of the southern region of the country. The U.S. currently maintains control of the eastern region of the country. The NATO forces demonstrate the continued commitment of the international community to remove the Taliban's presence from Afghanistan and further support the democratically elected Afghan government. Afghanistan is still a dangerous place and is critical to our success in the global war on terror.

On the travel back from Afghanistan, our delegation arrived in London. As we deplaned in London, we were met by representatives of the U.S. embassy. As it turned out, we arrived in London on the very day the arrests were made foiling a terrorist plot. The British government grounded all departing international flights that day. We were able to leave for the U.S. the next day. Security, however, was extremely tight throughout the airport and the flight. In addition to the ban on liquids implemented here in the U.S., British authorities allowed only a plastic bag with essentials, including passports, money, airplane tickets and the like.

British intelligence was able to uncover the plot with the help of U.S. and Pakistani authorities. The arrests were the result of months of work and suggest that the new coordination between our intelligence agencies in helping to prevent additional acts of terror against innocent civilians is working. It is a stark reminder that our intelligence and law enforcement authorities must be right 100% of the time, but the terrorists just have to be right once for a tragedy to occur.

After leaving Afghanistan, we were seemingly free of the dangers encountered in a war zone. The foiled terrorist plot served as a reminder that this is a global war on terror. The terrorists are willing to strike anywhere and we all need to remain vigilant and steadfast as we continue this long war.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/8.18.06.shtml