Issue Position: Afghanistan

Issue Position

The security of the Afghan people is tantamount to the security of the United States. While none of us could ever forget the horrible tragedies of September 11, 2001, we also must not forget to remain vigilant against the perpetrators of that terrible tragedy. If the United States allows the Taliban to succeed in Afghanistan and Western Pakistan, not only will al Qaeda have a safe haven from which to launch future attacks against the United States, but that terrorist network -- one that perpetrated an attack that killed over 3,000 Americans -- will be very close to one of the world's nuclear arsenals. That is a risk we simply cannot afford.

I believe the key to success in Afghanistan is not simply militaristic, however. The people of Afghanistan must believe they have a stake in their own government for our efforts to succeed. Therefore I believe the role of the United States should not only be to provide military support in the Afghani's battle against the Taliban, but the United States must also be a major partner in the development of Afghanistan's infrastructure.

When President Harry Truman was faced with a similar situation in Turkey and Greece, he came up with a plan -- known as the Marshall Plan - to provide support for our allies in the region and secure political support for the pro-democratic governments in those countries. The United States must follow a similar path in Afghanistan, because if the Afghan people are unwilling to accept ownership for their government, the United States cannot succeed in its mission. Creating a unified Afghanistan with basic roadways, water supplies, and technical infrastructure is the only way to bring the Afghan people together.

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