August 6, 2008

Afghanistan – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and some of the nearly 34,000 U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The meeting comes as part of a week-long, multi-national congressional delegation trip Reid is leading focused on making progress on terrorism, global climate change, development and democracy.

“We must continue to work toward political reconciliation to help stabilize this entire region, and I discussed with President Karzai a number of issues affecting Afghanistan and what we must do to solve them,” Reid said. “I hope we will be able to work constructively and productively with President Karzai in the future.”   

While in Afghanistan, Reid met with several officials to discuss the progress being made in the country and the continuing fight against the Taliban. The officials included: William Wood, the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan; Major General Jeffery J. Schloesser (who heads Combined Joint Task Force 101 and Operation Enduring Freedom;) and General David D. McKiernan, head of the NATO-International Security Assistance Force that leads peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan.

During his visit with the troops, Reid observed a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) – groups of U.S. or NATO forces and civilian officials that provide safe havens for international aid workers to help with Afghan development. There are 26 PRTs in Afghanistan, 12 of which are American.

“I am proud of our men and women in uniform and what they are doing to defend our country,” Reid said. “Their service fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as helping the people of Afghanistan, is invaluable and has not gone unnoticed. It is time we give them more support by refocusing our resources and efforts in the Middle East into Afghanistan.”

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