Congressional Republicans Applaud Trump's Afghanistan Speech

Republican lawmakers praised President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he would maintain U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and base further action on conditions on the ground rather than a predetermined timeline.

Speaking at Fort Myer in Virginia, Trump said that the consequences of withdrawal from Afghanistan would be “both predictable and unacceptable.” The president is expected to increase troop levels there, though he said Monday that he would not discuss numbers or military plans.

“I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will,” Trump said. The goal of using "strategically applied force" in Afghanistan, he later added, is to set up the conditions for a political process and achieve peace.

Arizona senator John McCain, chairman of the armed services committee, commended the president’s strategy as “long overdue.” He had previously slammedthe administration for delaying in setting out a strategy for Afghanistan.

“The President is now moving us well beyond the prior administration's failed strategy of merely postponing defeat,” McCain said in a statement. “It is especially important that the newly announced strategy gives no timeline for withdrawal, rather ensures that any decision to reduce our commitment in the future will be based on conditions on the ground.”