GUAM Delegate Madeleine Bordallo has returned to Washington D.C. following a two-day fact-finding congressional delegation to Afghanistan, her office announced.
While there, Bordallo and the delegation, led by Congressman Louie Gohmert of Texas, met with officials from the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The members were briefed on the NATO/ISAF Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program, an Afghan-led political peace initiative.
This was also the delegate’s first trip to the region following a recent deployment of Guam Air Guardsmen to the region.
Grateful
“I am grateful for the service and sacrifice of our sons and daughters from Guam who are serving in harm’s way,” Bordallo stated in a press release. “I had an opportunity to meet with many of our National Guardsmen, including former Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., who are currently deployed in Afghanistan. I told them we are proud of their service and are praying for their safe return home.”
She added: “Our delegation had an opportunity to discuss with U.S. defense officials how the Afghan security forces will transition to taking control of all security operations within their country. Our military continues to perform well and is providing critical assistance to Afghan security forces. Our military has successfully disrupted and reduced the capabilities of al Qaeda operations worldwide, which was the primary goal of this mission. However, history indicates that foreign forces that are in Afghanistan for a long time can act as a destabilizing force and it’s important that we begin to have a clear plan for the drawdown of forces in this country. The drawdown will be important for our country to focus on our new defense priorities that will put a greater focus on security interests in the Asia-Pacific region.”
