Thornberry Previews Afghanistan Hearing

Statement

Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, previewed the Committee's hearing on Afghanistan stating:

"Today we meet to discuss U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. I want to thank General Campbell for being here to talk about security conditions on the ground, the development of the Afghan National Security Forces, and the way forward.

Fourteen years ago, America's longest war began. Now, the results of America's sacrifice and the future of Afghanistan hang on crucial decisions President Obama is poised to make about how many troops will stay in Afghanistan through 2016. The extent of the ongoing terrorist threat to our homeland is also tied to these choices.

A lot has changed in Afghanistan. The new unity government is coping with the fallout of a Pakistani offensive that pushed militants across the border; the consequences of a power struggle resulting from Taliban leader Mohammad Omar's death; and the disturbing growth of ISIS. At the same time, international assistance has been cut and coalition forces withdrawn. Now Afghans face the prospect that no coalition troops will remain at the end of 2016.

When I visited the country last month, I found unanimous agreement that Afghan security forces have made enormous strides. But they are not yet ready to take on the national and international security challenges they face on their own; essential functions such as intelligence and close air support need more time to develop. And they are anxious for sustained U.S. advisory help.

In 2013, the U.S. military developed a plan to remove Americans from most combat operations in Afghanistan while still helping to develop the Afghan forces' security capabilities. The Obama administration disregarded the plan. Now, in addition to terrorist attacks, the Afghan military is in a tough fight without the key resources required to battle an insurgent campaign. Tragically, strategic territory that U.S. troops fought and sacrificed to secure may be lost.

The current plan is to end any meaningful U.S. military presence in Afghanistan by December 2016. Closing the few remaining U.S. bases deprives us of our ability to effectively advise and support the Afghan military and also eliminates much of the intelligence collection related to threats against the U.S. homeland.

The prospect of this serious gap in security is deeply concerning. Right now, we face the danger of repeating the mistake of Iraq, where a new, more virulent terrorist threat has grown after we left too soon. If we make the same mistake in Afghanistan, the danger to the homeland and to American citizens and interests around the world will grow significantly.

That is why I was encouraged to hear General Campbell's testimony earlier this week that he is recommending the Administration revise its plan to slash troop levels in Afghanistan at the end of next year. Here are some of the reasons why:

First, Afghanistan has been and will continue to be a crucial center for terrorist organizations. Only by staying engaged can we fight that threat at its source, rather than waiting for it to come to us.

Another reason is we have a motivated partner. Afghanistan's national unity government is anxious to work closely with the United States and has security forces willing and able to do the fighting. By providing modest financial support and a limited presence to advise and conduct counterterrorism, we will be in a solid position to take direct action against key terrorist targets.

A third reason is credibility. If we expect other nations to join the fight against terrorists, the United States has to prove we are reliable partner. That reliability is in doubt after our premature withdrawal from Iraq, the never-enforced red line in Syria, and a nuclear deal that does nothing to curtail Iran's malignant activities in the region. Complete withdrawal from Afghanistan would cause any country to question the wisdom of an alliance with the United States.

Fourteen years after 9/11, the United States faces many complex security threats. But Afghanistan remains a central node in the terrorism fight. It would be a tragic mistake for the United States to disengage from a fight where we have a willing partner and where so much can be accomplished at a relatively modest cost. We do not want to look back one day and wish we had chosen a different course."

Source