Military Families United: Military Families United Statement on Afghanistan Election Runoff
Military Families United Statement on Afghanistan Election Runoff
Washington, DC - Brian Wise, Executive Director of Military Families United, a national military family and national security advocacy organization, released the following statement concerning the news that the Afghanistan's election commission ordered a runoff in the presidential election. Results from the original vote held August 20 were inconclusive and claims of election fraud and tampering by government officials were rampant.
“Today’s news is a welcome step in the democratic process for the people of Afghanistan and I am heartened by news of the November runoff election.
While the legitimacy of the Afghanistan Government is critical to our mission, it should not affect the decision of whether or not to increase troops and implement a new strategy. Governments that have insurgencies have inherent and often long term issues with legitimacy and General Stanley McChrystal’s plan is designed to achieve security for the population that allows the government to function, and then build legitimacy in the eyes of Afghans. General McChrystal sent his recommendations to President Obama before the Afghan election results were known, and his recommendations were not based on the Afghan elections results, but on how to achieve success. The rampant election fraud has made the United States and the international community’s mission harder, but this important decision should not be held hostage by an unpredictable election cycle.
Gen. McChrystal has clearly articulated that without additional troops and an immediate implementation of a counterinsurgency strategy, our mission in Afghanistan runs a much higher risk of failure. Military Families United urges the President to not allow our troops on the ground to go under-resourced and under-supported while he waits for the outcome of this new election to make a decision concerning troop escalation. We support nothing less than victory in Afghanistan and we expect our Commander in Chief to give our troops the same chance to win in Afghanistan that they had in Iraq.”
About Military Families United
Military Families United (MFU) serves as the nation’s leading military family advocacy organization, representing the interests and values of those who sacrifice for our security and our freedom: America’s troops and their families. MFU gives America’s military families a voice in the national conversation on military, national security and other public policy issues through our outreach to media, government, and the general public. We seek to communicate the truth about our brave men and women in uniform and their mission to protect our freedom.
“Today’s news is a welcome step in the democratic process for the people of Afghanistan and I am heartened by news of the November runoff election.
While the legitimacy of the Afghanistan Government is critical to our mission, it should not affect the decision of whether or not to increase troops and implement a new strategy. Governments that have insurgencies have inherent and often long term issues with legitimacy and General Stanley McChrystal’s plan is designed to achieve security for the population that allows the government to function, and then build legitimacy in the eyes of Afghans. General McChrystal sent his recommendations to President Obama before the Afghan election results were known, and his recommendations were not based on the Afghan elections results, but on how to achieve success. The rampant election fraud has made the United States and the international community’s mission harder, but this important decision should not be held hostage by an unpredictable election cycle.
Gen. McChrystal has clearly articulated that without additional troops and an immediate implementation of a counterinsurgency strategy, our mission in Afghanistan runs a much higher risk of failure. Military Families United urges the President to not allow our troops on the ground to go under-resourced and under-supported while he waits for the outcome of this new election to make a decision concerning troop escalation. We support nothing less than victory in Afghanistan and we expect our Commander in Chief to give our troops the same chance to win in Afghanistan that they had in Iraq.”
About Military Families United
Military Families United (MFU) serves as the nation’s leading military family advocacy organization, representing the interests and values of those who sacrifice for our security and our freedom: America’s troops and their families. MFU gives America’s military families a voice in the national conversation on military, national security and other public policy issues through our outreach to media, government, and the general public. We seek to communicate the truth about our brave men and women in uniform and their mission to protect our freedom.