[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 174 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H8871-H8872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE AFGHANISTAN CODEL

  (Ms. KUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss our country's 
ongoing efforts in Afghanistan.
  Over Thanksgiving, I had the honor to join five of our other 
colleagues from the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for a trip to 
spend the holiday with our outstanding service men and women in Kabul, 
Kandahar, and Bagram Air Force base.
  Additionally, we received numerous briefings from senior military, 
State Department, and intelligence officials. We heard about the 
multitude of challenges facing the young democracy in Afghanistan, 
ranging from hard security challenges emanating from the Taliban, al 
Qaeda, and even ISIL, to societal challenges in a country with 92 
percent illiteracy.
  This is now primarily an Afghan fight with just over 9,800 American 
troops remaining in the country. However, the threat of international 
terrorism and the need to ensure that the country never again becomes a 
haven for those seeking to target the United States means that we will 
need to have a presence in Afghanistan for some time to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I was encouraged by the dedication of the men and women 
in uniform who continue to demonstrate their commitment to our mission. 
I was also encouraged by the resolve

[[Page H8872]]

demonstrated by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to reduce corruption and 
rebuild the economy.
  Make no mistake, Afghanistan faces many challenges in the years 
ahead. But with the help of the United States of America, the 
international community, the tenacity of the Afghan leaders, and some 
good luck, the Afghan people can hope for peace and greater prosperity 
in the future.

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