Congressman Dave Reichert

Contact: Amanda Halligan (206) 275-3438

Washington, Jun 23 - "I just returned from Afghanistan, where I met with General McChrystal and his command staff and was able to see firsthand the progress that’s being made there. I thank Gen. McChrystal for his service to our country and the cause of freedom, and I wish him well. He follows in the proud tradition of other generals who have led our troops through past conflicts, and we are fortunate to have had such leaders throughout history. While there is no doubt the remarks by Gen. McChrystal and his staff were inappropriate, the events of the past few days are between the President and the General. I support the right and necessity in our democracy that it must be the Commander in Chief who makes this decision. I trust that he has made it with the safety of our troops and the success of the mission as his criteria. I have had the opportunity to meet with General Petraeus, and I appreciate his willingness to serve as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He is a leader of the highest caliber and has my full support. It is now time to move past this incident and refocus on the big picture. We are at a pivotal point in Afghanistan: we must fight and win this war so our troops can come home and the Afghan people can live in peace."

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