(Washington,
D.C.) — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following
statement after President Obama announced his timeline for a troop drawdown in
Afghanistan.
“Tonight
President Obama took a step in the right direction by outlining a drawdown of
American troops from Afghanistan over the coming year. I have called for a
sizeable and sustainable drawdown because I believe the human, economic and
military resources we are spending in Afghanistan are unsustainable. The
President’s announcement is a step forward, but I will continue to push the
President to bring this war to a close and redeploy troops out of Afghanistan
while providing the support they and their families deserve.
“Our
brave men and women in uniform have done everything we’ve asked of them –
including finding Osama Bin Laden. But we need to make sure our military
operations are targeted to meet the threats of today.
“Our
terrorist enemies are not bound by lines on a map. Leaving tens of thousands of
troops in Afghanistan is not the best use of our resources—especially as we
work to tackle our debt and deficit. It’s time to redeploy, rebuild our
military and refocus on the broader war on terror. I was glad to see President
Obama take a step in that direction today.
“But
as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I know that the costs
don’t end when our men and women leave the battlefield—for so many troops and
their caregivers, that is just the beginning. This must be a consideration for
the President and our entire nation whenever we make strategic military
decisions. I will continue to push to make sure our veterans and military
families are one of the foremost concerns during this drawdown and that they
get the care they need and deserve.”
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