Congressman Ron Kind

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Congressman Ron Kind REPRESENTING WISCONSIN’S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1406 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, D.C. 20515 • (202) 225-5506 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hunter Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Contact: Leah Phone: 202-225-5506

Rep. Kind Statement on the President’s Afghanistan Address WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) today made the following statement in response to the President’s address on Afghanistan. “A decision to increase troops is one of the most difficult decisions a President has to make. I am pleased that President Obama is taking time to weigh all the options and is asking the right questions. It is important that the policy is worth the sacrifice that our men and women in uniform are making on behalf of our country. “It is also important that we have a legitimate partner in Afghanistan, so that we are able to train and equip Afghan troops and develop a minimal level of self governance. Any plan should have measurable objectives so our troops have clear direction and so we know if we are succeeding. It is crucial that we do not Americanize Afghanistan and at the same time, our overriding objective must be to eliminate safe havens so Al Qaeda cannot launch future terrorist attacks against us or other nations. To do this, we need a coordinated, regional approach that involves the international community and does not solely focus on military force but also focuses on economic development in the region, especially agriculture. “Having just been to Pakistan, I know that a partnership with Pakistan is important to rooting out terrorists and ensuring stability in the region. “Earlier this year, Wisconsin had the largest deployment of National Guard members since World War II. I know the stress and strain that repeated deployments have on our military members and their families. I am pleased that President Obama is focused on an exit strategy so our troops will not be in Afghanistan one day longer than what is necessary.” -30-