Issue Position: Iraq and Afghanistan

Issue Position

War is unarguably the most pressing and weighty issue facing this country and this Congress. As such, I am confronted with difficult decisions surrounding these policies. During the first few months of the 111th Congress, my colleagues and I passed the Fiscal Year 2009 War Supplemental bill. This bill would fully fund ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This funding would provide our troops with the equipment necessary to carry out their mission successfully and safely. I voted in favor of this Act because I believe that our troops serving in harm's way deserve this funding that will provide body armor, improvised explosive device countermeasures, mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, and other protective equipment that will keep them safe while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I am pleased with the progress that has been made in Iraq. I am hopeful that the President will be able to begin the further drawdown of American forces there throughout the summer. However, I remain increasingly concerned with the situation in Afghanistan. The escalation in attacks against U.S. forces and our NATO partners is very disconcerting. The progress being made in rooting out the Taliban from Afghan provinces is also a point of worry.

I recently visited Afghanistan in order to better understand that situation on the ground. It was clearly evident that our men and women in uniform are carrying out their mission with the professionalism, dedication to duty, and steadfast determination that we have come to expect from our military. I am proud to help provide the necessary tools and resources to them so that they may complete their mission successfully and come home safely. However, I expect more from our Afghan partners, especially those in the Afghan government. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress, on both sides of the aisle, and our military and foreign service officials to better ensure that any aid we provide the Afghan government strictly be used for its intended purposes, and does not line the pockets of corrupt officials.

The expansion of the conflict into Pakistan is especially disconcerting. The situation on the Afghan -- Pakistan border has been steadily deteriorating for several months now. I hope that the President's strategy, emphasizing the use of State Department civilian advisors to help build the Afghan infrastructure in conjunction with a robust military force to protect Afghan civilians and officials from Taliban insurgents, is successful. The stability of Afghanistan has a direct impact on the stability of Pakistan. Furthermore, the stability of these two countries is important to our national security.

I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to help our troops accomplish their respective missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am also looking forward to the day in which our troops redeploy safely and honorably from both countries.

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