(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Following last night’s announcement
regarding Afghanistan troop withdrawals, Rep. Rich Nugent (FL-05) issued
the following statement:
“A week and a half ago, I got back from a trip to Iraq,
Afghanistan and Pakistan. The difference between Iraq and Afghanistan was
striking.
“Everywhere we went in Iraq, we wore tactical gear and flew
around in convoys at high-speeds. In Afghanistan, we wore casual clothes
and walked around streets that just six months ago would have been totally
inhospitable.
“Our troops have made enormous progress securing
Afghanistan, and I want to make sure that the President is listening to the
commanders on the ground about the pace of withdrawals and not making decisions
for political reasons.
“I’ve got two sons in Iraq and one just finished a fifteen
month tour in Afghanistan and frankly, I wanted to see all of our troops home yesterday.
But I also don’t see the wisdom in handing your enemy your playbook.
“I am very skeptical of announcing withdrawal dates and
troop numbers. The closer we get to our announced withdrawal in Iraq, the
worse it seems to be getting. I support bringing them home, but politics
should never, ever be put ahead of the safety of our men and women in uniform.”
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