Frankel Meets with American Military and Afghan Officials, Visits Troops in Afghanistan

Frankel Meets with American Military and Afghan Officials, Visits Troops in Afghanistan

Participates in Week-Long, Four-Country Mission with Bipartisan Congressional Delegation

Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) met with American military leaders and troops and Afghan officials in Afghanistan as part of a bipartisan congressional mission. During a week-long trip, Frankel — who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee — and the bipartisan delegation also spent time in Kosovo, Germany and Qatar.

“This Memorial Day week I met with the extraordinary men and women who courageously serve our country in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Germany and Qatar,” Frankel said. “This bipartisan trip allowed me to see first-hand our military and diplomatic efforts, gauge our progress and gather information to share with my colleagues. Throughout the trip I kept thinking of my son a former Marine captain and remembering the blessing of having him return safely from his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

In Afghanistan, the focus of Frankel’s trip was on the drawdown of the American military presence and transition to Afghan forces. Briefings included updates from military generals in the field, USAID and embassy staff.  Frankel also met with an Afghan national security advisor and one of the Corps Commanders in the Afghanistan National Security Forces.    

The rest of the mission was about current and future military and civilian operations in Kosovo, Europe and Africa. AFRICOM officials consider Africa a new hotbed of potential terrorist activity. 

Throughout the trip overseas, Frankel and the delegation met with government, military and diplomatic leaders. In addition, Frankel had a chance to hear about the experiences of women who are serving our country overseas and visit with a number of South Florida service men and women. In Afghanistan, among others, she spent time with three service members who are students at Palm Beach State College and in Qatar she talked with a female military captain and nurse who graduated from Palm Beach Lake High. In Germany, Frankel visited wounded service members.

Frankel departed for the bipartisan trip overseas on May 25 and returned June 1.

For photos from Frankel’s trip, click here.