Shaheen Warns Trump Administration of Dangers in Sudden Drawdown of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, issued the following statement in response to Acting Secretary of Defense Miller’s announcement that the United States will significantly withdraw the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“President Trump’s denial of the election results and outright attacks on our democratic process are alarming in their own right, but coupled with this significant shift in our foreign policy make his actions all the more dangerous,” said Shaheen. "I urge the Trump administration to carefully reconsider any decision to hastily withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq and to bear in mind the rule of law, U.S. security and the sanctity of our alliances. We cannot allow these countries to, yet again, become a safe haven for terrorists looking to do Americans harm. Further, we cannot leave NATO and our partners in the dark. Any withdrawal must be conditions-based. Congress passed existing laws to ensure that any withdrawal going forward is not based on arbitrary timelines or political considerations. I urge the administration to follow these laws and not cause irreparable harm to our national security, our alliances or to the people of these nations.”