(RTTNews) - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued a statement Monday expressing his support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's plan to transfer complete military control of Afghanistan to Afghan forces by 2014.
"I welcome NATO's announcement that it will seek to transfer responsibility for Afghanistan's security to Afghan forces by the end of 2014," McCain said.
He added, "I also appreciate that this new transition date is a goal, not a guarantee of complete withdrawal, and I welcome the Secretary General's statement that NATO forces will remain engaged in Afghanistan as trainers and advisers after 2014."
McCain said that the focus for the U.S. and NATO should be to succeed in the mission of protecting the Afghan people, degrading the insurgency, supporting the growth of just and effective governance, and training professional Afghan security forces.
The Arizona Senator also said that he was pleased with NATO's decision to continue expanding and improving missile defense in Europe as well as Russia's acceptance of NATO's invitation to cooperate in the endeavor.
McCain said, "Hopefully it signals Russia's recognition of what I and others have said all along - that missile defense in Europe is neither directed at nor a threat to Russia, but rather designed to protect the United States and our allies from rogue regimes like that of Iran."
"The United States and NATO should waste no time in continuing to develop and deploy the missile defense systems in Europe necessary for our common security - with Russian cooperation if possible but without it if necessary," he added
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