DeLauro Statement on Meeting with President Obama to Discuss Afghanistan Strategy

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) met Wednesday with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Members of Congress to discuss a new strategy for U.S. policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"The path forward in Afghanistan has many challenges and I very much appreciated the opportunity to sit down with President Obama and Vice President Biden to discuss our strategy as we move ahead after my visit to Afghanistan. While I have my concerns, which I shared in the meeting, I also recognize that the challenges we face in Afghanistan and Pakistan are critical to our national security and that the President is right to refocus our efforts there.

"In our discussions, it was clear to me that the President understands that his Administration must do what the Bush Administration failed to do and that is to provide a clear rationale for our mission, state the goals and offer a definition of success to the American people and the world. I have no doubt that our military can get the job done, they just need a clear mission. I also have confidence that the President will move forward with a strategy that not only relies on our military, but also uses all other tools at our disposal-diplomatic, economic and political- in working effectively with our NATO allies to bring stability to the region."

Also attending the Wednesday 4 March meeting were the other members of the recent Congressional Delegation trip to Afghanistan and Italy, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi; John Larson, Democratic Caucus Chair; George Miller, Chair of the Education and Labor Committee; Ed Markey, Chair of Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming; Anna Eshoo, Chair of the House Select Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management; Michael Capuano, Member of the House Financial Services Committee; and Bill Pascrell, Jr., Member of the House Homeland Security Committee.