Rep. Buck McKeon, head of the House Armed Services Committee, can't understand why President Barack Obama, as commander in chief of the armed forces, won't recognize the achievements and successes of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
"The president, the commander in chief, the one that sets the strategy in our war in Afghanistan, is not even taking credit, not even acknowledging that the troops have had great victories over there, have had great accomplishments," the California Republican told Fox News'
"America's Newsroom."
Positive changes in Afghanistan, owing to aid from U.S. troops, include an increase from 1 million to 8 million children attending schools, with more opportunities for girls in Afghan society, McKeon explained. He said he thought support for the war was waning because people didn't know about the successes of the troops.
"America doesn't know about it. So, their support for the war is dropping. It is incredible the president has only talked about this war a handful of times," McKeon said. "I just think that that is reprehensible."
McKeon called it "inexcusable" that there was no information on the White House website about the "the victories that they've accomplished over there." Instead, he said the president was focused on withdrawing U.S. forces, without highlighting their achievements.
"The troops should be praised for the successes that they've had. It should not be that hard for the commander in chief, who, when he goes on television, commands the worldwide audience, to just let them, those who were over there sacrificing, [know] that he appreciates what they've done, and that they've had great success," he said.
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