WASHINGTON - Maine Sen. Angus King is back from visits to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Qatar. He says regional security issues were a major topic, as well as the attempts to contain ISIS.
In an interview with MPBN News, he says he got a surprise when he met the new president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani.
“I shook his hand, and said, 'I am Angus King from Maine.' He said, 'Oh yes, I know Maine. I got many mosquito bites at your Moosehead Lake,' ” King says.
King says he was impressed at the progress that has been made in Afghanistan, such as the number of women and girls in school going from none to three million. He said the life expectancy of an Afghan has significantly improved in the last 12 years, rising from just 43 years old to age 60.
“There is a lot of good news in Afghanistan, if we can just hold the security piece together so that they can start to build on this progress.” King says.
In Qatar, King says he visited one of the command centers directing air strikes against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. He said the commanders made it clear they are selecting targets very carefully.
“When in doubt, they are missing some possible targets,” he says,” They are avoiding targets because of the danger of civilian damage.”
King says a recurring theme in the talks he participated in with fellow Senate Armed Services Committee member, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, was concern about ISIS and the threat it poses to regional and international security.
“All of these countries are concerned about ISIS and the threat it poses, particularly the Middle Eastern countries that are run by Muslims but are not supportive of this radical, jihadist ideology,” he said.
King said he was able to spend some time with Maine soldiers, sailors and airmen during his visit to the region. He said he surprised some members of the Maineiacs, the Air National Guard’s 101st Airborne refueling wing based in Bangor, when he joined them for dinner.
