WASHINGTON - Subcommittee on National Security Ranking Member Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) opened today’s hearing by emphasizing that President Trump spearheaded successful efforts to reduce U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan and negotiated an unprecedented peace agreement which will help create a safe and prosperous Afghanistan by ensuring that the region will no longer provide safe harbor for terrorists.
In his opening statement, Subcommittee Ranking Member Grothman also highlighted the importance of continuing to strive for a safe, stable, and independent Afghanistan. As the United States reduces our military footprint and brings American troops home, he concludes that it is critical the Biden Administration remains committed to promoting the success of the peace negotiation process and works to ensure Afghanistan’s independence remains uncompromised.
Below are his remarks as prepared.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing. And thank you to all the witnesses here today.
As we discussed at last week’s markup, I wish this hearing could be in person or at least hybrid.
Issues of this significance deserve to be discussed face to face.
This year will be the twentieth anniversary of United States being attacked by al-Qaeda on Sept. 11, 2001.
Those brutal and unprecedented attacks took the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent Americans in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon.
Days later, on October 7, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom and invaded Afghanistan leading to the toppling of the Taliban’s terrorist regime.
The United States has had a presence in Afghanistan ever since.
Unfortunately, every time we meet to discuss ongoing efforts in Afghanistan, the same issues come up.
To date, the American taxpayer has sent almost one trillion dollars to Afghanistan either supporting combat or reconstruction.
In America’s longest war, we are just starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
President Trump reduced the American footprint in Afghanistan from over one hundred thousand (100,000) during the Obama Administration to just a few thousand.
On Feb. 29, 2020, under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States signed a peace agreement to gradually withdraw Americans from Afghanistan.
This agreement will help to create a safe and prosperous Afghanistan by ensuring that it will not provide safe harbor to terrorists.
Now I understand and will be the first to admit that just packing our bags and leaving is dangerous.
That type of withdrawal will create a vacuum for terrorism and potentially set back the social and governmental gains in Afghanistan.
What I do believe is that it should be our goal to reduce our global military footprint and bring troops home.
This just needs to be done safely and with American national security interests at heart.
I want to thank you all and your group for the hard work you have done to produce this report.
The report makes specific recommendations on how to best advance American interests in Afghanistan and the region, such as:
• Clarifying the end state.
• Working to promote the success of the peace negotiation process.
• And having an overarching regional diplomatic strategy.
Each of your recommendations suggests the need for a safe, stable, and independent Afghanistan.
It is important for the Biden Administration to continue the hard work of President Trump to advance these goals, particularly independence.
I look forward to hearing from all of you today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I yield back.
