Senator Kit Bond Talks Strategy with President Obama’s Nominee to Lead Military Operations in Afghanistan

Calls on Senate to Confirm Quickly; Diplomatic, Economic Efforts Central to Military’s Success

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Defense and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees, today met with Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal, President Obama’s choice to be the next military commander in Afghanistan to discuss the way forward in the region.

The Senator stressed the need to employ Smart Power – or non-military diplomatic and economic efforts – in cooperation with military force to combat terrorism and extremism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

“The dedicated members of the American military, our intelligence professionals and State Department officials continue to serve our country well,” said Bond. “It is essential that the efforts of each be woven together to form a comprehensive strategy that will not only win the battle, but win the war.”

During his meeting with McChrystal, Bond reiterated the comprehensive strategy outlined in a report he sent last year to then President-elect Obama and members of his national security team. In the report, the Senator highlighted the need for President Obama to gain support of local leaders in the region and the need for the United States Government to work with those leaders to provide the people what they need, not what we think they need.

Bond knows first-hand the success that can grow out of cooperation with local leaders and supported initial efforts to create the Missouri National Guard Agriculture Development Team (ADT) in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province where he visited in December. This team, made up of personnel with varying civilian and agricultural backgrounds, is teaching Afghans the skills they need to grow and harvest legitimate and sustainable crops. As a result, Afghan farmers are not only improving their own lives and land, but the temptation to grow narcotics is lessening.

In recent months the Senator has applauded President Obama for his appointment of a Special Envoy to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and for providing a broad outline for success, but he has cautioned that the devil is in the details.

Today, Bond praised the selection of General McChrystal as the right man at the right time to lead military operations in Afghanistan and called on the Senate to confirm him quickly so he can get on the ground in Afghanistan as soon as possible.

“General McChrystal is not only a dedicated and accomplished military man, he is an effective leader who understands the critical challenges we face in the region,” Bond said. “Even more importantly, he understands that the war will not be won with military might alone – that to win this war we must combine the outstanding work of our military with effective diplomatic and economic efforts. The Senate needs to confirm quickly this nomination so General McChrystal can get on the ground in Afghanistan in the next few days.”

Source: Senator Kit Bond