Boehner Statement on Incident in Afghanistan

Statement

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) released the following statement today following news reports of a violent attack on American forces serving in Afghanistan:

"Anyone who has said "Godspeed' to a family member or friend deploying in harm's way knows the quiet fear of watching on the sidelines while our deployed military and civilian personnel complete their work in service to our nation. There have been far too many knocks on the door over the last thirteen years, and while we wait to learn more details of the deadly incident at Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, let us not forget that for at least one family, their lives have been changed forever. Others are learning loved ones have been wounded. Our respect and prayers are with those families today.

"What happened today is not only a personal tragedy, but a setback that demands leaders in Washington and Kabul take time to assess the state of our shared campaign and the necessary steps forward. The Taliban's recent campaign of high-profile attacks is calculated to accompany a global PR strategy highlighting the fact that U.S. and coalition forces will soon be leaving Afghanistan and abandoning its weak and ineffective government. The Taliban wants everyone to know it will soon dominate all aspects of life in Afghanistan once again.

"I have told the President privately and publicly that my biggest concern is that America will end its mission in Afghanistan just short of the goal line. After my visit there in May, I warned that if we did not demonstrate a determination to finish the job, we would be looking at a reversal of progress similar to what we have seen in Iraq. The national security interests of our country are too high, and too much sacrifice has been made to watch that happen. So let me reiterate: if the President decides to re-think his strategy, including withdrawals, deadlines, and policy restraints, particularly on certain associated terrorist networks, he will have my support.

"I also encourage Dr. Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah to rise above the pressures on each of them and to continue to demonstrate the statesmanship that pulled Afghanistan back from the brink one month ago. The Afghan people need their leaders more than ever, and the international community needs confidence that the leaders of Afghanistan understand the stakes.

"The prayers and respect of the U.S.House of Representatives are with the families of our fallen and wounded personnel and with Embassy Kabul and ISAF."

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