Kaine Statement On Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement on the President’s announcement that he will slow the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan:

“Over the past 14 years, the United States has made a significant investment in Afghanistan – including 2,215 American lives lost – that has helped achieve meaningful progress. I support President Obama’s effort to maintain this progress by recalibrating the trajectory of the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan based on President Ghani’s request and conditions on the ground. Our investment in Afghanistan’s security, stability, and prosperity has been key to ensuring Afghanistan is never again used as a base of attack against our homeland and we should continue doing everything we can to consolidate the hard-fought gains of America’s longest war.

“I had the pleasure of meeting with President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah in October 2014, shortly after the formation of their unity government and the first democratic transfer of power in Afghanistan’s history.  I was impressed by their leadership in signing the Bilateral Security Agreement and swift progress in beginning to implement their reform agenda.  I look forward to President Ghani’s joint address to Congress tomorrow.”    

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