Iraq and Afghanistan
In October 2002, I voted against the resolution granting President George W. Bush broad authority to invade Iraq, arguing that if the U.S. did not work with the United Nations and the world community, we could endanger our international coalition against terrorism and damage our moral authority. While I am deeply disappointed that these concerns were borne out, I am pleased that President Obama executed a strategy that ended the Iraq war and removed all of our combat troops by the end of 2011. And while I opposed the Iraq war resolution, I could not be prouder of the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families. I will continue to work with the Administration and military and foreign affairs experts to honor their commitment by helping to maintain a stable Iraq.
In the wake of redeployment from Iraq, I support efforts to redirect our attention and resources to the struggle against violent extremism, particularly in Afghanistan. The Afghan war is the longest in our nation’s history, and there can be no question that it has already cost our nation. But as difficult as military operations have proven, rebuilding a post-conflict economy is in many ways an even more complex challenge. There are no shortcuts to a sustainable economy and a stable government, and we must fully support and enable the Afghan people as they move towards a brighter future. What we must not do is leave Afghanistan to its own devices and allow the resurgence of extremists such as the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Maintaining a thoughtful and pragmatic approach in Southwest Asia will ensure continuity and allow us to methodically pursue long-term goals instead of patchwork solutions.
In May 2009, I had the opportunity to visit with troops, commanders, diplomats, NGO representatives and others in Iraq and Afghanistan as I led a congressional delegation to observe firsthand the successes and challenges facing us in those two critical war zones. But most importantly, I was extraordinarily impressed with the dedication and professionalism of our troops and commanders. These brave men and women are committed to bringing peace and stability to troubled regions of the world. Meeting with these patriots on the front lines only strengthened my commitment to them and to ensuring their safe return home.
As a member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I am committed to ensuring that, whether in Afghanistan or other areas of conflict around the world, our men in women in uniform and intelligence professionals are properly resourced and executing a national security strategy grounded in strategic considerations and careful debate. As part of this effort, I believe that it is critical that we build and sustain our international coalitions and alliances, which will not only help our national security efforts, but also help in repairing our international reputation. Our nation cannot afford the unilateralism of the past, and as demonstrated in operations in Libya and elsewhere, alliances rooted in mutual interests are vital to countering security challenges in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
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