Washington, DC - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) released the following statement today upon his return from Afghanistan and Pakistan:

"This morning, I returned from a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where I met with military and political leaders to get a first-hand look and a better understanding of the current situation in Afghanistan and to help me gauge its future prospects.  While my trip was brief, I was able to visit with our troops, our coalition partners, and the Afghanistan security forces in order to hear directly from them about the mission they are all supporting.

"The message I heard most clearly from our officers, our enlisted men and women, and our coalition and Afghan partners was their steadfast belief in the mission in front of them and their faith in the achievable goal of providing security and stability to the people of Afghanistan.  It was remarkable to hear from the troops on the ground, both coalition and U.S. troops, that they are fully committed to this mission and want to see its ultimate success.  Despite the many challenges they face, the morale of our troops remains high and their fierce dedication to the mission was truly inspiring.

"At this time, I believe General McChrystal's assessment of the current situation and his conclusions, including his assessment that coalition forces must have more daily contact with the people of Afghanistan, is correct and is what is needed if we are to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan. 

"This strategic approach will mean altering our military strategy to focus on counterinsurgency, building the capacity and capability of the Afghanistan security forces, working with Pakistan to remove safe havens for militants that threaten not only Pakistan's stability but also our efforts in Afghanistan, and ensuring that appropriate resources are provided to accomplish this goal. As for the specific numbers of U.S. troops that may be required for this new strategy, I will await specific recommendations from the military and the Administration.

"There is no question that multiple factors are involved in achieving the goal of a secure and stable nation, and not all of them are under our control.  While meeting with military and political leaders in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, I relayed the United States' continued commitment to this goal and also asked for the same commitment in return.

"It is my firm belief that if we leave now, the Government of Afghanistan will not survive and the consequences will be detrimental to the region and will ultimately threaten the security of the United States.  For these reasons, I will continue to work with President Obama and the military to ensure that our troops on the ground have the resources they need to succeed in their ultimate objective of a secure and stable Afghanistan."