Schilling Statement on President's Drawdown in Afghanistan

Press Release

Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement of a drawdown in Afghanistan:

"Significant progress has been made in Afghanistan since the surge of 2009. Our troops have developed relationships with local leaders, seized momentum by killing or capturing terrorist cells, and established stability in regions that were once very contentious," Schilling said. "It is of utmost importance that any drawdown of troops take place responsibly and at a strategic pace. It must take place in a manner that will not put remaining forces at risk or negate recent gains that American forces and the Afghan National Army have been able to achieve."

Schilling traveled to Afghanistan in March of this year on a fact-finding mission with other members of the Armed Services Committee. He will be attending a Committee hearing on Thursday June 23 to receive testimony on recent developments on Afghanistan and the President's proposed drawdown of U.S. forces.

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