May 25, 2009

Senator Mark Begich Reports from South Asia

Afghanistan trip includes meetings with Alaskans, President Karzai, U.S. military commanders

After several days in Afghanistan meeting with the country's leadership and with U.S. troops, including some from Alaska, U.S. Senator Mark Begich said today he is encouraged the country is on the road toward security and stability.

Sen. Begich talked to Alaska reporters via teleconference from South Asia on day four of a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) trip that includes four other U.S. Senators. The CODEL has traveled in some of the most dangerous regions of Afghanistan and went to areas where the 17,000 troop surge will be assigned to help stabilize the region in the coming months.

He said the new international troops and an increase in civilian assistance should help stabilize Afghanistan so that it can eventually police itself and return the country to a sense of normalcy.

"It has been very encouraging to hear their views that they appreciate the refocusing of our country, of this administration, on Afghanistan," Sen. Begich said. "They are ready to move down the path of self-governance."

The Senate delegation left Washington, D.C. late Thursday for Afghanistan and other countries in the region and returns to Washington Wednesday. Sen. Begich said the delegation so far has met with new U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, President Hamid Karzai, other members of the Afghanistan government, U.S. military command staff and numerous U.S. troops from the states represented by the senators.

Traveling with Sen. Begich are Sens. Tom Carper, Kay Hagan, Jeanne Shaheen, and Mark Udall.

Sen. Begich said the CODEL was unable to meet with members of Alaska's 4-25th because the Regional Command-East (RC-East) was going through a transition of authority. But Sen. Begich has met a handful of Alaskans in Kabul and at other stops along the way.

Sen. Begich added that as a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the trip has given him more confidence that the new strategy of focusing not only on additional combat troops, but also on trainers, will lead Afghanistan to a democracy.

While the senators have been traveling, North Korea over the weekend detonated an underground nuclear test. Sen. Begich issued the following statement on that action.

"North Korea's nuclear test, just a few weeks after its test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, is troubling to the entire international community and underscores the importance of the ground-based missile defense system in Alaska. Given North Korea's unpredictability and continued reckless activity, America must have a proven defense system that protects it and the world from potential attack. The missile defense system at Fort Greely is part of the front line of defense for our nation and I'll continue working in the Senate to ensure that it is fully operational."