Although we have successfully warded off another domestic
terrorist attack since September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda and its
allies remain intent on killing innocent people and spreading an
ideology of violence and hatred around the world. We must remain
vigilant in our defense of freedom and democracy as we face
difficult challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on other fronts
in the War on Terrorism.
Security Transition in Iraq
In Iraq, the tremendous sacrifices of our troops in implementing
the Surge strategy have successfully weakened al-Qaeda, calmed
sectarian tensions, and reduced reliance on local militias.
Since 2007, civilian deaths have fallen by 63% to levels not
seen since 2004. In addition, high-profile attacks against
coalition forces have decreased by 59% nationwide since their
highs in early 2007, and coalition casualties remain at 2004
levels. Iraqi Security Forces, who control operations in 13 of
Iraq’s 18 provinces, are set to assume operational control of
the remaining U.S.-controlled provinces by the end of 2009.
Provided these security gains are maintained and the government
of Iraq continues to build capacity, major redeployment of U.S.
troops out of Iraq should be complete in 2011.
In addition to providing security for millions of Iraqis, the
Surge has successfully provided the Government of Iraq with the
breathing space necessary for their burgeoning democracy to take
root. In February, the Government of Iraq passed an important
milestone with the peaceful conclusion of provincial elections.
Unlike previous elections, Sunni voters turned out in large
numbers, and participation was estimated at 51% of registered
voters. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Coalition for the State
of Law candidates won in nine of Iraq’s 14 provinces, earning
sizeable gains against Iranian-backed Islamic Supreme Council of
Iraq Party.
These encouraging results show that democracy has a real
chance to succeed in Iraq despite Iran’s attempts to increase
its influence in the Government of Iraq. As confidence in Prime
Minister al-Maliki continues to grow, it is imperative that his
administration build on these political successes to form a
strong coalition capable of maintaining control of their country
during the security transition. It is also essential that Iraqis
assume full responsibility for maintaining security in all
provinces of their country. In the meantime, we must continue
training Iraqis and providing them with logistical support they
need so that they can take responsibility for the security of
their country, and we can bring our troops home as quickly as
possible.
New Challenges in Afghanistan
While we have seen great progress in Iraq, we must stay focused
on troubling developments in Afghanistan. Taliban insurgents
have fought U.S. and coalition forces to reestablish strongholds
across Afghanistan’s frontier and into tribally-administered
areas of Pakistan, undermining the Afghan Government and
hindering coalition efforts to seal Afghanistan’s porous
frontier borders. U.S. commanders are working with the Obama
Administration to develop a strategy for quelling the
insurgency, hunting down terrorists, and ensuring Afghanistan
does not revert to Taliban control.
US and NATO forces face tremendous challenges as spring takes
hold in Afghanistan. Warmer weather and melting snow help open
up transportation in the country, making it easier for
insurgents to mobilize men and materiel against coalition
forces. Recent attacks in Kabul and along NATO supply routes in
nearby Pakistan are evidence that the insurgents are well-armed,
deeply entrenched and anxious to continue their insurgency.
In coordination with the upcoming spring thaw, President
Obama plans to supplement combat troops in Afghanistan with
additional Marine Expeditionary Units and Army brigades. This
will increase troop levels by about five brigades or 17,000
troops, bringing the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to
about 50,000. In addition to providing increased security in
populated areas and near the Afghan-Pakistan border, these
troops will increase the intensity of counter-drug operations
against Afghanistan’s highly-lucrative opium trade. Afghanistan
produces about 80% of the world’s heroin from its poppy fields,
and much of the proceeds of these drug sales are used to fund
the Taliban insurgency.
It is my hope that this new strategy in Afghanistan will help
provide security and deny resources to the growing insurgency,
giving Afghan security forces a chance to finish training with
coalition forces and take control of their country. In the
meantime, we will continue to work with the Government of
Afghanistan and our international partners towards building an
Afghanistan that is never again a safe haven for terrorists, is
moderate and democratic, is capable of governing its territory
and borders, and is respectful of the rights of all its
citizens.
The Need for Success
Moving forward in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must bear in mind the
consequences of failure. If we give up now, a weakened al-Qaeda
would quickly rematerialize in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In
Iraq, sectarian and tribal conflicts would reignite and
escalate. Iran, a known supporter of terrorist groups including
Hezbollah and Hamas, would emerge as the dominant regional
power. Afghanistan would likely relapse into a series of bloody
power struggles between terrorist-sympathizing Taliban
supporters and increasingly powerful drug lords, the same
conditions that allowed Afghanistan to become a safe-haven for
al-Qaeda terrorists in the first place.
You may be asking yourself – why is this so important? What
does all this have to do with me? For our communities, for our
families, and for our way of life – the stakes could not be
higher. As a father of three young children, I realize the
importance of ensuring that Iraq and Afghanistan do not become
the new bases for world-wide terrorist operations. In a
post-9/11 world, we cannot let up in our fight against radical
extremists - those that seek to end our way of life. The safety
and security of our nation and the fate of the free world
depends on it.
The President’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request
President Obama’s FY2010 base budget requests $533.7 billion for
the Department of Defense (DOD), a 4% increase over FY2009. It
also requests an additional $205.5 billion to cover military
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through FY2010. I applaud the
President’s efforts to budget honestly for the costs of Iraq and
Afghanistan, and his commitment to tackle the Pentagon’s bloated
and inefficient weapons development and acquisition process.
However, I am concerned about the lack of attention given to the
rising costs of DOD healthcare, whose accelerating growth rate
puts the safety of our troops at risk over the long term.
While there are many ways to streamline the DOD budget,
Congress must not forget its promises to our troops, our
veterans at home, and the families of all who serve. Our troops
overseas must be provided with the tools they need to complete
their mission and return to their families as soon as possible,
and we must also work to ensure our veterans and the families of
all service members receive the care, support, and services they
need in a timely, convenient, and efficient manner.
Fulfilling our Commitment to our Troops
The brave soldiers who are serving our country in Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have made tremendous personal
sacrifices in order to make the world a safer place. I am
grateful to our troops for their service, and I am working to
provide them with the equipment they need to achieve their
missions safely and effectively and return to their families as
soon as possible. Congress must also ensure that the families of
these courageous individuals are thanked and cared for while
their loved ones are away. On September 30, 2008, the President
signed the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Appropriations Act, which
contains $487.7 billion for DOD programs through March 2009. The
bill contains the following provisions: