Press Releases
CENTCOM Agrees with Rep. Michael Waltz that Situation in Afghanistan Does Not Warrant Withdrawal
Washington, DC,
March 8, 2019
“In your advice do the conditions merit a withdrawal, a reduction of forces- whether it’s the conditions of the Afghan Army, which I would think we’d agree is not ready to stand on its own, or the battlefield conditions from a CT perspective?” Waltz asked.
“… The political conditions and where we are in the reconciliation, right now, don’t merit that,” General Votel replied.
Yesterday, Representative Michael Waltz (FL-R), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, participated in a hearing titled “National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activities in the Greater Middle East and Africa,” with the Commanders of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Waltz pressed General Joseph Votel (CENTCOM) to indicate whether the current situation on the ground in Afghanistan justified a withdrawal of U.S. forces stationed there. Waltz then turned to General Thomas Waldhauser (AFRICOM) and inquired about American Jeff Woodke, who was captured in 2016 and is currently being held hostage in Mali. Waltz concluded by asking about the optimization of AFRICOM- specifically, what risks a 25% reduction of special operators pose to current missions being conducted in the region. “In your advice do the conditions merit a withdrawal, a reduction of forces- whether it’s the conditions of the Afghan Army, which I would think we’d agree is not ready to stand on its own, or the battlefield conditions from a CT perspective?” Waltz asked. “… The political conditions and where we are in the reconciliation, right now, don’t merit that,” General Votel replied. Watch the full exchange here.
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