Congressman Courtney Relays Experience in Afghanistan to Congress

Press Release

CONGRESSMAN COURTNEY RELAYS EXPERIENCE IN AFGHANISTAN TO CONGRESS

During Memorial Day week, I had the honor to spend time with men and women in our nation's Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. As part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to the Middle East, I had the chance to spend a week with military and civilian leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan and Connecticut soldiers on the ground.

In Iraq, I met with General David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces there, and also spent time with Iraqi Defense Minister Al-Obeidi. I expressed to Al-Obeidi clearly that my constituents in eastern Connecticut are growing impatient with the lethargic progress of the Iraqis to assume control of their security and governance.

Our troops are performing heroically, but at the end of the day, the Iraqi people must want peace among themselves to end to the sectarian violence that rages throughout the country. In Yarmouk, a Sunni neighborhood governed by Shia, trash collection is ignored, water and electricity are not provided as required, and other services are simply not attended to because of the religious divide. And caught in that divide are our brave soldiers who have suffered the highest two month casualty rate since the war began.

One soldier I met just learned that his tour of duty, his second, would be extended for another three months. He has anxiously been counting the days when he could see his family again. When he learned that his tour had been extended, this sixteen year veteran told me that it was "like a punch in the gut" for him and his wife.

In Afghanistan, I saw signs of hope and encouragement. Most importantly, the Afghan people clearly have a desire to live in peace with security and are making some progress in rebuilding their country. Also, there is a strong international effort through NATO that does not leave us with the sole burden of carrying the fight. After meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, I believe in his commitment to build a hopeful future for Afghanistan.

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