WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Steve Womack and several House Republicans met with American troops in Afghanistan on Monday, House Speaker John Boehner’s office announced.
The group also met U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham and Gen. Joseph Dunford, who leads the coalition and United States forces in Afghanistan, according to a news release from Boehner’s office.
The trip comes soon after Afghanistan’s April 5 presidential election. President Hamid Karzai, the country’s first president since the U.S. removal of the Taliban from power in 2001,is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
“The Afghans are poised to elect a new government for the first time in their history. We must honor the sacrifices of the Americans and Afghans who have given so much to reach this point, and continue our work together,” Boehner said.
Discussions on the trip focused on the election, the role of American troops going forward, and economic development in Afghanistan.
Joining Boehner and Womack on the trip were Republican U.S. Reps. John Kline of Minnesota, Doc Hastings of Washington, Dave Camp of Michigan, Tom Latham of Iowa, Devin Nunes of California and Greg Walden of Oregon.
Front Section, Pages 9 on 04/15/2014