Iraq and Afghanistan

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. 

However, I foresee a policy shift with the new Administration.  I am pleased that President Obama has pledged to drawdown our troops from Iraq by the summer of 2010.  The war in Iraq has been costly – both in lives and in money.  The full extent of the cost associated with this war may not be fully realized for years to come as a result of injuries many of our brave men and women in uniform have sustained.  I plan to continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that our veterans receive the medical care that they have been promised and that they deserve. 

Despite the progress shown in Iraq, I am increasingly concerned about the escalating violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  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 new 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.