President Donald Trump’s speech on Afghanistan drew a mixed response from Delaware’s Congressional delegation. But all of them said important questions still need to be answered.
President Trump said conditions on the ground will determine when the war in Afghanistan is over.
Sen. Tom Carper agrees with the U.S. not setting a timetable for troops in Afghanistan and said that won't affect troop deployments.
“We don’t send people over there indefinitely," he said. "They have an end date of their particular deployment and they know that it’s not going to last forever and there’ll be a time when they have a chance to come back and be reunited with their families.”
But Carper also said the president didn’t spell out how the U.S. will achieve victory.
“I would say this is an incomplete," he said. "It’s not an A, not a B, it’s not a failing grade, but it’s an incomplete. But I think it shows some improvement in where this president’s thinking was. In fact it just shows a greater sense of maturity.”
Sen. Chris Coons said he’s concerned the lack of a timetable may result in a much longer, more costly war. He also believes Congress should have the opportunity to debate changes to U.S. policy in Afghanistan.
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester said she agrees that Trump’s plan was too vague in areas and needs strong Congressional oversight.
