WASHINGTON, DEC. 1, 2009 – “The President announced a new strategy for Afghanistan in March and his commander in Afghanistan Gen. McChrystal requested additional troops in September. After months of delay and deferral, the President is announcing that he will send an additional 30,000 troops to that nation and will pursue a broad counterinsurgency strategy. I support the President’s decision and urge him to ensure that our military is provided the resources required to achieve success in Afghanistan. However, I am concerned that this slow response has encouraged our enemies and weakened the resolve of our allies. In addition, we must avoid setting artificial timelines and rely instead on the conditions on the ground and the judgment of our commanders. The War on Terror demands strong American leadership, and it is not too late for the President to provide that leadership.”