WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this afternoon, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the lead Republican of the House Armed Services Committee, and Congressional leaders met with President Obama at the White House to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. Ranking Member McKeon’s statement follows:
“I greatly appreciate the President inviting us to visit with him at the White House to discuss Afghanistan and General Stanley McChrystal’s request for additional troops.
“General McChrystal’s assessment states that we risk losing the war if we fail to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the next 12 months. I believe that decisive force is the best way to seize the initiative and prevent a stalemate.
“I respectfully asked the President to make a commitment that he resource the war in a manner that ends the stalemate with the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. I made clear to the President that I do not believe the Congress, nor the American people, will support the war if we are just continuing the stalemate – especially when our forces are giving their lives.
“There’s no room for bartering when it comes to war in Afghanistan. We must listen and trust in our military leaders. There is but one option that will allow us to win and that is to fully resource a robust counterinsurgency strategy.”
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