Congressman McCaul: U.S. Needs More Military Resources in Afghanistan

AUSTIN – With violence escalating on the front line of the global war on terror, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) returned from an official visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan Monday expressing the need for more U.S. military resources in the region. Rep. McCaul toured the volatile region with some of the 27,000-30,000 U.S. personnel whose mission it is to take out Taliban and al Qaeda terrorist cells operating along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, many of which have found safe refuge in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The latest example of Taliban and al Qaeda resurgence, a suicide massive bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, came just as Congressman McCaul left the region Monday.

"Today’s bombing represents a dramatic escalation in violence carried out by these terrorist groups. It is clear that the United States military needs more resources in Afghanistan to fight the war on terror," Rep. McCaul said. "There is a 40% increase in violence in Afghanistan which can be largely attributed to the tribal areas."

Congressman McCaul met with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, and expressed grave concerns about the tribal areas providing a safe haven for Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and possibly Osama bin Laden. Their presence and isolation makes it likely the tribal areas would be the source for another terrorist attack in the U.S. Their existence also puts U.S. troops in Afghanistan at greater risk. President Musharraf indicated he would consider U.S. military assistance to root out terrorists in these areas but said he does not think his country would support such a joint operation involving the U.S. military in his country.

"Every day that Pakistan’s military fails to eradicate the terrorists, the terrorists continue to plot against America and the situation in the battlefield becomes more dangerous for our troops," Rep. McCaul said. "I believe it is imperative that U.S. forces be allowed to pursue the Taliban and al Qaeda in the tribal areas inside Pakistan’s border if we are to prevent another terrorist attack."

With success in Iraq and the potential faster paced drawdown of U.S. troops from that country, Congressman McCaul believes we must take this opportunity to redirect our efforts in the war on terror in Afghanistan. In addition, Rep. McCaul believes that our NATO allies must increase their military presence in the region to more equitably share the financial and human cost.

Congressman McCaul toured the most hostile region along the Pakistan border by Blackhawk helicopter, visiting troops at bases in Khost, Gardez and Ghazni, as well as at Camp Eggers in Kabul. He was proud to witness progress in reconstruction efforts for new roads, schools and education in Afghanistan. The Texas National Guard has been instrumental in this effort through the Texas Agribusinesses Development Team. Rep. McCaul believes this progress is winning over the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan, which is the key to long-term success in the war on terror.

Congressman McCaul visited the Middle East with U.S. Representatives Gene Green and Henry Cuellar. They also visited wounded U.S. military personnel at Landstuhl Medical Center in Ramstein, Germany, and celebrated Independence Day with Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

Congressman McCaul is a member of the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees. Before he was elected to Congress, McCaul served as chief of Counter-Terrorism and National Security in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Texas, and led the Joint Terrorism Task Force charged with detecting, deterring and preventing terrorist activity.