Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Listen To U.S. Commanders In Afghanistan and Not Abandon Counterinsurgency Strategy

Letter

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of Senate Republican Leadership, wrote to President Obama today urging him not to abandon the very counterinsurgency strategy he began implementing just a few months ago, to supply senior commanders in Afghanistan with any additional troops and resources they need, and to stand firm on his promise to do whatever it takes to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Sen. Cornyn is increasingly concerned over reports that the Obama Administration is considering an abrupt strategy shift in Afghanistan and has yet to consider a pending request for additional resources from General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

Sen. Cornyn writes: "I find your recent call for a broad strategic review on Afghanistan nothing short of puzzling. We have a sound strategy in place - the one you announced just six short months ago - and I strongly encourage you to stay true to that plan. It is my understanding that General McChrystal's recent Afghanistan assessment, endorsed by both the commander of U.S. Central Command and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was developed in accordance with the goals you set forth in your March 27 strategy. "Moving the goalposts' at this juncture is not appropriate, and it would likely have a detrimental effect on the morale of our military forces in Afghanistan, who depend on clear and consistent guidance from their Commander-in-Chief.

"Our senior military commanders in Afghanistan are undoubtedly best positioned to determine what strategy, troop levels, and other resources are needed to succeed there. Should U.S. troops on the ground need additional resources to accomplish their mission and return home safely, they should receive them. On that point, there is no need for compromise."

The full text of Sen. Cornyn's letter is below.

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

I write today to express deep concern over recent news reports suggesting your administration is considering a major strategy shift in Afghanistan and has not yet considered a pending request for additional resources from General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

On March 27, you unveiled with much fanfare a "comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan." You indicated that your new strategy had been the result of "a careful policy review" that you ordered upon assuming office. Along with many of my Senate colleagues, I have enthusiastically supported that strategy to improve overall security in the Afghan theater of operations and enable the eventual drawdown of U.S. forces there. I commend you for, in devising that strategy, having taken the hard lessons learned during the surge in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 and applied them to the campaign in Afghanistan. We must keep those lessons, and the manner in which our troops in Iraq achieved them, squarely in mind as we move ahead in Afghanistan. As you previously recognized, the surge strategy in Iraq "succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated" and "beyond our wildest dreams."

It is for these reasons that I find your recent call for a broad strategic review on Afghanistan nothing short of puzzling. We have a sound strategy in place - the one you announced just six short months ago - and I strongly encourage you to stay true to that plan. It is my understanding that General McChrystal's recent Afghanistan assessment, endorsed by both the commander of U.S. Central Command and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was developed in accordance with the goals you set forth in your March 27 strategy. "Moving the goalposts" at this juncture is not appropriate, and it would likely have a detrimental effect on the morale of our military forces in Afghanistan, who depend on clear and consistent guidance from their Commander-in-Chief. Without clear guidance, we run the risk of these brave Americans losing confidence in both their military and civilian leaders. Additionally, we would risk losing confidence among our NATO, Afghan, and Pakistani allies, who may question our commitment to the region.

General McChrystal's assessment represents a thorough and objective look at what it will take to succeed in Afghanistan, and I urge you to support his recommendations on both strategy and resourcing. Our senior military commanders in Afghanistan are undoubtedly best positioned to determine what strategy, troop levels, and other resources are needed to succeed there. Should U.S. troops on the ground need additional resources to accomplish their mission and return home safely, they should receive them. On that point, there is no need for compromise.

During your presidential campaign last year, you expressed strong and clear support for winning in Afghanistan, saying: "I have argued for years that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq. I will make the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win." I urge you to now back your words with action.

Recently, as our nation marked the eighth anniversary of the deadly attacks of September 11, 2001, we were reminded that those who attacked us had enjoyed safe haven in Afghanistan. Losing the war in Afghanistan would allow Islamic extremists to rebuild those safe havens, claim an undeniable propaganda victory for their violent and hate-filled ideology, and train new terrorists to launch attacks on our people. That must not be allowed to happen.

Keeping the American citizenry safe from harm depends on your willingness to stand firm on your promise to do whatever it takes to disrupt and defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Although success there will not come easily or without significant cost, we must do whatever is necessary to defeat al Qaeda, which has proven itself to be a lethal, mobile, and resilient enemy, as well as those who support it. No one knows this better than those brave Americans serving in harm's way in Afghanistan.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN

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