Congressman Charlie Wilson Remembered

Congressman Charlie Wilson Remembered, Honored By Afghanistan Foundation, Cppa

Washington, D.C., Kabul, Afghanistan, February 11, 2010

The Washington, D.C.-based Afghanistan Foundation and the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) today marked the passing of former U.S. Congressman Charles Wilson (D-TX) and offered a statement honoring and remembering him.

“We honor and remember fondly Congressman Charlie Wilson for his political courage and tireless devotion to the cause of the suffering and freedom-loving Afghan people, especially in those early dark days when the world had turned its back on Afghanistan,” said Philip Smith, President and Director of the Afghanistan Foundation.

“Congressman Wilson helped to lead and spearhead a historic bipartisan effort in Congress, with a handful of Members, that provided essential humanitarian aid, emergency medical care, refugee assistance and funding for food and covert weapons shipments, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, that helped to save the lives of many Afghan people and forever alter history and the geo-strategic balance of power during that pivotal era,” Smith said.

Smith stated: “We will never forget Congressman Charlie Wilson’s kind friendship and his leadership in the Congress, his love for the suffering Afghan people and the ordinary working people of Texas, who he diligently served, and especially his deep love for America who he devoted himself to defending. Indeed, Charlie Wilson remains immortal, to those of us who knew him and were honored to have had the opportunity to work with him and his staff on Capitol Hill during those fateful years that he served in Congress. He was a fearless warrior, a colorful Texan, a devoted public servant and a strong and proud American.”

Smith served as the Congressional staff liaison for the U.S. Congressional Taskforce on Afghanistan which Congressman Wilson Co-Chaired. He worked in the U.S. House of Representatives in the late 1980s and early 1990s with Congressman Wilson and other Members of Congress active on Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Foundation is a non-profit foundation in Washington, DC. established prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, which Smith helped to establish. It focuses on research, education and advocacy on issues pertaining to Afghanistan and the region.

Smith also serves as the Executive Director of the Washington, D.C. based-Center for Public Policy Analysis, a non-profit policy research organization focused on foreign policy, national security, human rights and refugee issues. http://www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org

ENDS

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