My son Michael joined the Armed Forces shortly after the September 11th attacks.  As a father, I was proud of his patriotism and courage, but I also worried for his safety when he was overseas.  Since day one, I’ve been committed to strong oversight of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to make sure that our troops have the resources they need and good plans for success.

I have worked to develop responsible withdrawals from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I believe that it is now the time to reduce our military presence in Afghanistan in a way that protects the brave men and women in the military as well as our security here at home. More than ten years of war has placed a tremendous stress on service members, their families, and our country. Our commitment to military families must never waver, and bringing our troops back home is a priority.  We need an expedited timeline for bringing them back to the United States.

The stakes in Afghanistan remain high, and I believe we have an interest in making sure that al-Qaeda can never again use Afghanistan as a safe haven. We have been successful in targeting high-ranking terrorists, such as our military’s ability to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. But we still face serious challenges, and reducing corruption by Afghan officials and providing a framework for a stable Afghan government is essential. When I visited Afghanistan, I was impressed by the dedication and courage of American troops, and they deserve our steadfast support.  I have consistently backed policies that would bring our troops home, while still providing them the tools they need to succeed.  I will continue to support our service members and their families, just as I supported my son when he was in the military.