Afghanistan

Statement from Attorney General Martha Coakley On The President's Reported Plan To Increase Troop Levels In Afghanistan, 11/29/09

"Based on what I know now about the President's planned troop increase, I do not believe that we should send additional troops into Afghanistan. I believe we should begin the process of bringing our troops home. I will of course listen further to the President's address, but I remain very concerned that the case for an increase in troops has not been made.

"My concern moving forward is that there is no evidence that the Afghan government, led by President Karzai, is a legitimate or trustworthy partner in these efforts.  Without a credible Afghan partner, we cannot achieve a goal of securing this country with increased troop levels and then implementing a sound exit strategy that leaves it in the hands of a stable Afghan government."

Background

The situation in Afghanistan is dire.  American involvement in Afghanistan since 2001 has been marked by difficult conditions and terrain; a lack of focus due to the Iraq conflict; and stalled economic and infrastructure development. American taxpayers have spent approximately $38.6 billion dollars in reconstruction assistance. And during the eight-year conflict, almost one thousand Americans have lost their lives.

Martha believes that three components must be included in any Afghanistan military plan. First, we must protect Americans at home and soldiers serving abroad. Second, we must work to empower the Afghan Government and security forces and encourage economic and social development. And finally, we must work with the Pakistani Government to ensure their backing and support in containing the Taliban and driving Al Qaeda members out of Pakistan. These elements are necessary to ensure safety and stability in the region.

Protecting Americans

Keeping America safe is a grave responsibility. In Washington, Martha will support a targeted plan in Afghanistan that focuses on eliminating the threat of terrorism directed towards the United States. She knows that we cannot allow Afghanistan to become a breeding ground for terrorists who wish to do us harm.  Our goal in Afghanistan should be, as it always has been, to fight Al Qaeda to keep America safe from terrorist threats.

American service members are dedicated and courageous, and in recent years have been asked to make sacrifices the rest of us cannot imagine. Martha is deeply concerned about putting more lives at risk and escalating violence. As Senator, Martha will not support a troop increase unless and until the goals we need to achieve are clearly articulated and capable of being carried out.

Martha believes it is Congress and the President’s responsibility to narrowly define the mission, to directly address that mission and to get our American troops home safely to their families. As Senator, she will focus squarely on the mission of keeping America and our soldiers safe from harm.

Moving Forward

Throughout her twenty plus years in public service, Martha Coakley has proven herself to be a bold and pragmatic leader. As Attorney General, her first priority has been the safety and security of the people of the Commonwealth. As a Senator, she will be a strong voice for policies that help to ensure the preparedness of our troops, help Afghanistan build a secure democracy, and help keep Americans safe at home and abroad.