WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the top Democrat of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, on Tuesday released a statement on the Pentagon’s confirmation that they will draw down troops in Iraq and Afghanistan before President-elect Biden is inaugurated:

“I support a swift and orderly drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. But it’s important that we do this in the right way and in close coordination with allies—not on President Trump’s political timeline.” said Murphy. “The Afghan government is currently engaged in sensitive negotiations with the Taliban over the future status of the country's political and social order, and we should use our leverage to help them get the best deal possible. From Iran to Yemen to Afghanistan, President Trump is apparently intent on implementing a series of lame duck policy changes designed to constrain the options available to President-elect Biden. These decisions should not be made until Biden takes office so as to allow the people's choice to be Commander in Chief to determine a path forward.”

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