WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s address on Afghanistan Wednesday.

“The pace of any drawdown in troops must ensure the Afghan people, the U.S., and our coalition partners will not lose any ground that we have gained since the troop surge began in 2009,” said Wicker.  “The President should listen to our generals in Afghanistan who were responsible for directing the surge.  We abandoned Afghanistan in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  The subsequent failed state led to the September 11, 2001 attacks.  We cannot let this happen again.

“The death of Osama bin Laden served as a reminder that the U.S. will not rest until those who would do us harm are stopped.  The remaining members of al-Qaeda and other violent Islamist extremist groups are intent on killing innocent men, women, and children around the world, and they must be stopped.”

Wicker serves as Deputy Whip and is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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