WASHINGTON - At a hearing today on Capitol Hill, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker questioned key members of President Obama’s national security team about the administration’s new Afghanistan strategy, as well as the future of the Air Force refueling tanker competition.

The day after President Obama outlined his new Afghanistan strategy, Wicker pressed Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for more details during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. 

During the hearing, Wicker addressed the logistical challenges associated with getting 30,000 additional troops and their equipment into Afghanistan quickly, as General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, has requested.  Admiral Mullen offered Wicker his assurances that it was possible and would be done.

The Mississippi senator also questioned the president’s decision to announce a surge of troops and a withdrawal date at the same time, saying it is “a policy that at first blush, on its face, is a paradox and a contradiction.” 

Wicker also reaffirmed his belief that failure in Afghanistan is not an option. 
 
“I’m going to support this commander in chief because the alternative is unacceptable,” said Wicker, who intends to travel to Afghanistan again in the near future to get a clearer picture of the challenges facing our military. 

Moving to another issue of importance to the Gulf Coast, Wicker voiced concern over the Air Force refueling tanker contract.  Yesterday, the Northrop Grumman/EADS team threatened to withdraw from the competition because of the lack of fairness in the bidding process.  Wicker has previously stated his belief that the competition unfairly favors Boeing, the other bidder under consideration.

“One can only read the [request for proposal] this year as almost directing a lighter, smaller, and inferior product,” Wicker said to Secretary Gates, pointing out that the competition is slanted in favor of Boeing’s smaller aircraft.  “I think Northrop Grumman is absolutely justified to take itself out of the competition at this point.  I hope that can be rectified.”   

Should it win the multi-billion dollar contract, the Northrop Grumman/EADS team would build the aircraft in Mobile, Ala.  Wicker has previously stated this would create thousands of jobs across the Gulf Coast states, and it could help the region establish a world-class aerospace corridor and further boost economic development. 

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