A Window of Opportunity in Afghanistan

On a recent visit to Afghanistan, I was privileged to meet with a number of Oklahomans whose service and dedication should make us all proud. It was an honor to thank them on behalf of our state for their courage and hard work. Many of them have served repeated tours of duty, sacrificing months of time with their families and the comforts of their daily lives to put themselves in harm's way to make America safer.

This is a crucial time in Afghanistan. While August saw the withdrawal of combat units from Iraq, it also marked the conclusion of the troop build-up in Afghanistan. Just days ago, the last of the 30,000 additional troops committed by President Obama last December arrived, bringing the total number of U.S. forces to 98,000.

In another key development, General David Petraeus has taken command. As the architect and leader of the successful Iraq surge, General Petraeus is the ideal commander for the complex and vital mission in Afghanistan.

With the commitment of additional troops and the leadership of General Petraeus, our military personnel believe they have the resources they need to complete the mission. There is a great sense of optimism, unity of purpose and cohesion among our military and civilian forces. Furthermore, our troops expressed great confidence in the support of the Afghan people.

My observations and discussions with our military leaders leave no doubt that we can complete the mission in Afghanistan. However, it is not clear that our forces will be given sufficient time to effectively implement the surge strategy given the fact that President Obama pledged to begin withdrawing troops in July 2011.

In a mission in which so much depends on winning the trust and cooperation of the Afghan people, such a policy sends mixed messages at best, and, at worst – in the words of Marine Corps Commandant James Conway -- constitutes “probably giving our enemy sustenance.” Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ronald Neumann agrees, saying the deadline "leaves a profound sense of insecurity" among Afghan officials and civilians.

I spoke with many people who believe that this deadline discourages our friends, emboldens our enemies and undercuts our mission. There is genuine concern that the July 2011 drawdown date will lead to a precipitous decline in resources and support.

It is incumbent upon President Obama to prevent such a destructive turn of events. By devoting more time and effort to communicating his Afghan policy to the American people--and reaching across the aisle to sustain bipartisan support-- Obama can ensure our troops have the support and time they need to succeed.

Leaving before the mission is complete means empowering the extremists waiting in the wings and allowing Afghanistan to revert to the terrorist safe haven it was before the September 11th attacks. The turnaround after the Iraq surge demonstrates the necessity of listening to military commanders and of focused leadership on the part of the commander in chief.

American fighting forces are the best in the world, and their mission should not be jeopardized by arbitrary deadlines. In Afghanistan, we have the right commander, the right strategy and a world class military. All that is needed is sufficient time for the surge to work. This vital window of opportunity must not be squandered.

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