Tampa Bay Times - Rubio Makes Trip to Pakistan, Afghanistan

Press Release

Speaking from Kabul, Sen. Marco Rubio said 2011 would be a "critical" year for Afghan military forces to "step up," but dismissed plans for the U.S. to begin withdrawing troops this summer.

"I think we are on the timeline this year to have some real good news and make some significant progress but I think if you attach a date to it, that you talk about openly in the press especially, you are really creating a difficult situation. The bad guys, the Taliban and even Al Qaeda, must know all they have to do is wait."

He said the benchmark should be what territories are turned over to the Afghanistan government, and said it appeared there was progress in that area. "There is a long ways to go ... but we are headed in the right direction."

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