Tonko Statement on End of War in Afghanistan

Statement

WASHINGTON--Congressman Paul D. Tonko released the following statement on the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan on Monday.

"With admirable clarity of purpose, President Biden made the tough, but right call to end America's twenty year involvement in Afghanistan. America's sons and daughters will no longer be put in harm's way halfway around the globe for a war that began before many of them were born and for a mission which no longer serves our national interest.

"My thoughts today are with the families of the more than 2,400 U.S. service members who perished in this conflict, the men and women of our Armed Forces who put their lives on the line to evacuate more than 123,000 individuals from the Kabul Airport, and the hundreds of thousands of veterans who served honorably in Afghanistan--many of whom came home with wounds seen and unseen. As our diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan continue, I will work to ensure the United States prioritizes respect for human rights and safe travel for all who wish to leave, including our Afghan allies."

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