| (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, met today with Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Afghan officials. Statement of Ros-Lehtinen:
“From a resurgent Taliban to Iranian adventurism, U.S. national security interests – and the lives of our servicemen and servicewomen – are at stake in Afghanistan. It will take a strong commitment from both governments to achieve the security goals which are so vital to both nations.
“Beyond military objectives, true security in Afghanistan will only be achieved when the illicit narcotics trade, which helps fund the insurgency, is wiped out. Eradicating the drug trade, and the corruption which it has stoked, must be at the top of U.S. objectives in Afghanistan.
“I am gratified by the commitment of the Afghan people, who recently went to the polls for only the second time in their nation’s history despite ongoing security threats. It is important that the outcome of the process is viewed as legitimate.
“As the Afghan people continue to strive for democracy and stability, U.S. policy must remain committed to the mission in their country which is so critical to the future of American and Afghans alike.”
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