Hill Statement on Visit to AfghanistanFor more information, contact: Mike Siegel, (202) 225-2506
Washington, DC,
November 10, 2015
During the past week, Congressman French Hill (AR-2) was part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Kabul, Afghanistan and Abu Dhabi, UAE. While in Kabul, the Delegation met with American diplomats and military commanders as well as Afghan officials to assess the future of the NATO mission, Resolute Support. After the visit, Congressman Hill released the following statement: “This trip was well-timed considering President Obama's recent announcement to maintain U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan at 9,800 through the end of 2016. The President made a sensible strategic decision in maintaining U.S. and NATO strength to train, advise, and assist the mission of charting a path for a secure and economically independent Afghanistan. “I left impressed with Afghan leadership and their willingness to fight and assume responsibility for their security, particularly in light of heavy offensive operations by a more lethal Taliban and new engagement from Al-Qaeda and ISIL. The Afghan Unity Government is a refreshing change from the Karzai decade, but, there is still much work to be done in terms of Afghan security, economic development, and relations with its neighbors. The Unity Government has witnessed victory and defeat, and emphasis now must be on unity and getting the job done. This government has an opportunity to move beyond three decades of conflict and finally provide its people a future with the freedom to pursue happiness.” ### Additional Information The Delegation was led by the Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27). Congressman Ted Yoho (FL-3) and Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1) were also part of the Delegation. |