Cornyn pleased with Trump's new Afghanistan plan

Texas Senator John Cornyn said Tuesday he’s pleased that President Trump wants to send thousands of new troops to Afghanistan and thinks the plan will eliminate the growing extremist threat.

Senior officials say nearly 4,000 troops will be sent to the country, a major shift from Trump's earlier plan.

Cornyn said after an event at the Fort Worth Chamber Of Commerce that U.S. efforts in Afghanistan help hold down terrorist attacks at home.

“The reason 9/11 occurred, the terrible terrorists attack, is because of a power vacuum in places like Afghanistan which then are filled by terrorists Al-Qaeda and the like,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn serves on the subcommittee on terrorism in the senate and said he likes where the president's new strategy in Afghanistan is going.

Some have criticized the president for favoring India over its rival Pakistan as it asked both countries to do more in Afghanistan. Cornyn says there's a problem with Pakistan.

“He focused on Pakistan's problem as a sanctuary for terrorists who come over and kill Americans and kill Afghans in Afghanistan and run back across the border into Pakistan,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn said the U.S. can't afford to do anything less in Afghanistan.

“Providing a small American presence, primarily training Afghan soldiers, will deny the terrorists the safe haven they need in order to prosper and export their attacks,” Cornyn said.