U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, today applauded the President’s decision to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to implement a robust counterinsurgency strategy.  However, McKeon pointed to the President’s arbitrary deadline of July 2011 to begin withdrawing U.S. troops as sending the wrong message to the American people, the Afghan population, our allies, Afghanistan’s neighbors, and the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

McKeon’s statement follows:

“Tonight the President eloquently laid out the difficult mission he is asking our military personnel to undertake in Afghanistan.  Republicans support our troops and their mission.

“All Americans want to see our troops leave Afghanistan as soon as possible after successfully completing their mission, but we want that redeployment to be based on the events and conditions on the ground— not the Washington political clock.  Setting a date certain to begin withdrawing U.S. forces risks undermining the very mission the President endorsed tonight.

“I applaud the President for ordering a significant number of new U.S. military forces to Afghanistan in an expedited manner.  This will enable General McChrystal and his forces to take the fight directly to the Taliban in southern and eastern Afghanistan, while helping train and mentor the Afghan National Security Forces at the same time.

“In the coming days and weeks, I look forward to hearing directly from General McChrystal on whether this force properly meets his needs and enables him to fully implement his counterinsurgency strategy.  Additionally, the upcoming testimony by Secretary of Defense Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mullen, and Secretary Clinton will provide additional insights on the way forward in Afghanistan.

“Finally, I would like to see the President travel to communities throughout the United States to rally the American people and the Congress behind his strategy.”