Washington D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith made the following statement on the President’s announcement regarding Afghanistan:

President Ghani’s attitude towards the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship is a welcomed change from that of his predecessor.  I applaud the President’s decision to support the new Afghan president and our strategic goals in that country by changing the pace of our drawdown.  I believe President Obama’s decision will help the Afghan people in the long run.  And I believe that President Ghani has shown a willingness to work together to achieve both of our security goals.