Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, traveled to Afghanistan this weekend as part of a congressional delegation led by U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) to learn first hand about the progress of U.S. military efforts in the region.
While in Afghanistan, Whitehouse met with senior diplomats and military and intelligence officials, including International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander General Stanley McChrystal and U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, for a briefing on the status of U.S. military operations in the region. He also met with Rhode Island troops stationed in the country.
“After meeting with our top military officials and troops in the field, I came away impressed by their confidence and high morale,” said Whitehouse. “It is clear that the road ahead will not be easy, but I remain confident in America’s ability to combat terrorism and establish stability in Afghanistan.”
Whitehouse also met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah as they prepare for a runoff election to determine the winner of this year’s presidential contest. The runoff is seen as a crucial step in Afghanistan’s development as a democracy.
This was Whitehouse’s third trip to Afghanistan since taking office in 2007.
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