The Iraqi government should be able to take on more responsibility for its country long, but it may be years before the Afghanistan government can do the same, a Wisconsin lawmaker said Wednesday following his trip to Afghanistan. "While we can look forward to Iraq taking over its security and the costs of rebuilding, Afghanistan is going to be dependent on foreign assistance for a long time to come," Rep. Tom Petri said in a statement Wednesday. Petri said Congress needs to do some long-term planning on Afghanistan. "We need to think clearly about what we need to accomplish in Afghanistan, what we would like to accomplish, what this will mean for our troops, how much it's all going to cost, and who's going to pay for it," Petri said. Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia in the 1960's.
Tom Petri returns from Afghanistan trip with concerns
Rep. Petri returns from Afghanistan trip with concerns
By ELLYN FERGUSON • Gannett News Service • September 10, 2008
WASHINGTON -- The Iraqi government should be able to take on more responsibility for its country long, but it may be years before the Afghanistan government can do the same, a Wisconsin lawmaker said Wednesday following his trip to Afghanistan.
"While we can look forward to Iraq taking over its security and the costs of rebuilding, Afghanistan is going to be dependent on foreign assistance for a long time to come," Rep. Tom Petri said in a statement Wednesday.
Petri, R-Fond du Lac, was part of a six-member bipartisan congressional delegation that visited Afghanistan and Pakistan. The delegation also stopped in Austria to meet with top officials of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency to discuss controlling the spread of nuclear weapon technology. The group left last Wednesday and returned Monday.
While in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, Petri met with several Wisconsin military personnel. They are among the 33,000 U.S. troops in the country, nearly half of all foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Violence directed at U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians has dropped in Iraq, but attacks by Taliban insurgents appear to be on the upswing in Afghanistan. Afghani leaders also have accused Pakistan, a neighbor and a U.S. ally, of backing some of the terrorist attacks.
President Bush announced Tuesday that an additional U.S. Army combat brigade will be sent to Afghanistan in January.
Petri said Congress needs to do some long-term planning on Afghanistan.
"We need to think clearly about what we need to accomplish in Afghanistan, what we would like to accomplish, what this will mean for our troops, how much it's all going to cost, and who's going to pay for it," Petri said.
Contact Ellyn Ferguson at eferguso@gns.gannett.com
