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Meister's Statement on Afghanistan Plan
December 2, 2009
My support for President Barack Obama, members of our Armed Services and his decision to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan remains steadfast. I echo the President’s call for a time of national unity, as the challenges we face today as a Nation will take our collective will and courage to overcome. We should all commend President Obama for his careful consideration of all the strategies that could be pursued in Afghanistan and for his sober assessment of the conditions in that country and the consequences of letting the Taliban and al-Qaeda continue to operate with impunity in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Waziristan border region.
President Obama has laid out a clear strategy to diminish and destroy al-Qaeda and the elements of the Taliban that seek to threaten Americans and continue their attempts to undermine a fledgling Afghani democracy. He has clearly defined the mission’s objectives, set a timetable for their completion and outlined a responsible exit strategy. I believe, as does the President, that securing Afghanistan and creating the opportunity for the Afghani people to charter their own destiny is critical to America’s national security, the safety of our citizens and creating stability in the region.
In past statements I have emphasized the great need for us to remember the lessons we have learned since the close of the Soviet-Afghan war of the 1980’s. It was good to hear the President address those concerns, but as your United States Senator it will be my duty to ensure that we do not repeat our mistakes, that the President stays true to the timeline he has set forth, and that our strategy in Afghanistan recognizes that our military presence alone will not accomplish our objectives. The United States, along with the international community, must provide the funding and other support that emphasizes education and infrastructure to give the people and government of Afghanistan a firm foundation from which to grow. Furthermore, as we help the Afghani people rebuild their country, we must support the evolution of a democratic political system with a framework that is appropriate for the country, and is based on its history and its tribal and ethnic diversity.
