DREXEL HILL, PA -– Pat Meehan, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and current candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s address to the nation on Afghanistan.

“After consultation and deliberation, the President laid out the serious threat the insurgency in Afghanistan presents. Chaos in Afghanistan could destabilize Pakistan and even lead to the unthinkable notion of nuclear arms in the control of despots. Further, a destabilized Afghanistan could create a safer haven for the expansion of Al Qaeda terrorist capability and an increased threat to the safety of Americans and American interests here and abroad.”

“The President's plan sets out an ambitious timeline. First, a surging U.S. military engagement of the Taliban must be followed by a readiness and a willingness of Afghan forces to take over the mission. They must be recruited, trained and made capable. It is a tall order in a tight timeframe. The President must be resolute in ensuring that the government of Hamid Karzai fully adopts this commitment. The civil support of Afghans will suffer if genuine efforts to rein in corruption and to stem the trafficking of heroin are not simultaneously undertaken.”

“Second the President must be persuasive in his call that other nations join an international effort to neutralize the Taliban and to deter and dismantle Al Qaeda and its terrorist capacity. Third, the government of Pakistan is challenged to displace terrorists finding refuge in safe havens within its borders. This mission is critical to the long term stability of the region. The President must keep the Pakistanis fully engaged.”

“There are brave men and women in our military who will put their lives on the line to execute this plan. Our prayers are with them and our gratitude is immeasurable. They are owed the confidence that with the mission defined, they will be assured of the full support of our nation in what are sure to be challenging days ahead.”

About Pat Meehan

A former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the former District Attorney of Delaware County, Pat Meehan has a proven record of rooting out government waste and corruption, prosecuting tough criminal cases, and implementing innovative new programs to make our communities safer. As U.S. Attorney, Meehan helped coordinate the region’s terrorism preparedness and response, held manufacturers responsible for illegally discharging hazardous materials into the region’s waters, and established a group to crackdown on predatory lending. Pat, his wife Carolyn and their three sons Patrick, Jack and Colin, reside in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.