In Congress, we are routinely briefed about our military effort in Afghanistan. But nothing compares to meeting face-to-face with the people on the ground and assessing the situation with your own eyes.
Last week, I got that chance as part of a bipartisan, congressional delegation trip to South Asia.
What I saw during this trip underscored the exceptional efforts of our armed forces and the extraordinary challenges that we face in the region. From our distinguished leaders like General McChrystal and Ambassador Eikenberry to the outstanding men and women deployed from New Mexico’s bases, it was an honor to meet with our nation’s best.
I want the U.S. and Afghanistan to succeed, and our military and civilian personnel are doing their part to get the job done. We need to stay on track to meet President Obama’s goal of beginning to transfer our forces from Afghanistan in July 2011, and we must strengthen our focus on training the Afghan military and police so that they can take over the responsibility of securing their communities and region.
Spending time with our troops in Afghanistan was yet another reminder of all that they do for us. As our service men and women return home to New Mexico, I will continue to fight to ensure that our vets receive all the benefits that they deserve.
See a slideshow of photos from Afghanistan here .
