Colorado's Senators, Representatives React To President Obama's Speech On Afghanistan
DENVER (CBS4/AP)- President Barack Obama says 10,000 troops will come home from Afghanistan by the end of this year as the U.S. mission shifts from combat to support after nearly 10 years of war.
The president said a total of 33,000 troops would be withdrawn by next summer, as he announced what he called "the beginning but not the end of our effort to wind down this war."
Obama spoke from the White House East Room on Wednesday night to mark a milestone in a war he inherited and expanded with a surge of troops earlier in his administration. He says conditions are right now to start drawing it to a close.
Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, released this statement, "Coloradans are understandably weary of war, worried about the cost and its impact on our soaring national debt, and increasingly frustrated about the toll it has taken on our troops. It's time to bring the surge troops home, and I wish the president had laid out a more aggressive plan today. After discussing this issue at length with senior military leaders, diplomats, and many experts with years of service in Afghanistan, I think we could safely withdraw 15,000 troops this year without jeopardizing the gains that our men and women in uniform have achieved.
"Bringing half of the surge troops home would send two clear and unmistakable messages to the Afghan government. First, it's time for them to take over the security of their own country. Our mission there is not indefinite – and our bank account is already in the red. So it's time for them to begin standing on their own. And second, ensuring that the millions of dollars in aid we're sending to Afghanistan are being used wisely for the purpose we intend, not falling into the hands of insurgents or corrupt officials.
"A reduced troop presence doesn't mean that we are any less committed to the security of Afghanistan. But our interests there no longer require the deployment of 100,000 troops, including thousands of brave Colorado service members. We need to focus more of our resources on concerns at home. Coloradans rightly want to know when this is going to end. We should re-dedicate ourselves to ensuring that we're leaving Afghanistan stable and conclude our responsibilities there."
Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, a Marine Corps combat veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, released this statement, "I think the President's plan for shifting operational control to Afghan Security Forces by 2014 is a reasonable goal but publicly announcing a fixed schedule for withdrawing our forces, regardless of conditions on the ground, will only embolden the Taliban to wait us out.
"The strategy of deploying a smaller force will probably mean a shift from a counterinsurgency strategy to a counter terrorism one which should still enable our forces to accomplish our security objectives in Afghanistan."
Sen. Michael Bennet released this statement on the president's plan for troop withdrawal, "I have consistently stated that the President must uphold his commitment and begin the process of bringing our troops in Afghanistan home. Tonight's announcement is an encouraging sign that he plans to follow through on that commitment by withdrawing combat troops and support forces from the country in a manner that is sizable, sustained and responsible.
"Since 2001, the men and women of our Armed Forces have served admirably in Afghanistan, fulfilling their mission to destroy al Qaeda's safe haven, remove the Taliban government that sheltered al Qaeda and pursue those who planned the terrorist attacks of 9/11. We must do everything we can to ensure that those who have served so bravely are fully supported as they transition home."
Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colorado, released the following statement, "I believe it's time to begin to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. I have consistently said we took our eye off the ball by going into Iraq when we should have been focused on Afghanistan. Since 2009, the President has made the effort in Afghanistan a priority and we are seeing real results of this refocus including the death of Osama Bin Laden and many key Al Qaeda operatives.
Ultimately, the future of Afghanistan lies in the hands of the Afghan people. I strongly support transferring responsibility for the safety and security of the country to the Afghanistan security forces. I would like more of our troops to come home sooner, but the drawdown must be responsible and provide for the security of our troops and the gains we have made."
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, released this statement, "I commend President Obama for honoring his commitment to begin troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, but I urge him to provide his long-term strategy for total withdrawal as soon as possible. U.S. forces' elimination of Osama bin Laden and other top al-Qaeda leadership – and the subsequent weakening of their organization in Afghanistan – underscore how our mission in that country has shifted and how the time has come to bring our troops home."
