Chairman Cleaver’s Statement on the Drawdown of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan

 

For Immediate Release: June 22, 2011
Communications Director:  Stephanie L. Young o:  c: 

Chairman Cleaver’s Statement on the Drawdown of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan

Washington, DC – Today, Chairman Emanuel Cleaver released the following statement on the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan:

“I am pleased that we will begin to bring our troops home from Afghanistan next month and I applaud President Obama for taking a positive first step towards a responsible ending of the war. We are grateful for the sacrifices our troops have made over the past ten years and for the sacrifices they continue to make. I look forward to their safe return home.

“We recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to ensure that the region remains stable. Their stability should not be at the expense of thousands of American lives and billions of dollars. It is time for the Afghan government to stand independently.

“It is also time for us to focus on our nation’s greatest asset as President Obama mentioned; our people. It is time that we focus on nation building at home.”

 

-Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II

 

###