(RALEIGH) -- Congresswoman Renee Ellmers panned President Barack Obama’s remarks announcing the timetable for the withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan while Sen. Kay Hagan praised the announcement. The President's plan calls for the withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by next summer.

In a statement issued after President Obama’s remarks, Ellmers said:

"This evening, President Obama announced to the world his intention to set a deadline for withdrawing our troops from Afghanistan. Less than two months ago, American special forces led one of the most successful missions in modern history to kill Osama Bin Laden. The success of this mission was due largely to its secrecy. But now, the same President who oversaw this mission is giving a speech announcing to our enemies and the world our military strategy. These are my concerns, particularly as I head to Fort Bragg this weekend to visit with our troops who will soon be deployed to the front lines."

Hagan, chair of the Senate Armed Services Emerging Threats Subcommittee, gave a favorable review of President Obama’s plans.

"We owe our brave troops a strategy that both finishes the job and honors their sacrifice," Hagan said. "Yet there is a shortsighted focus among some in Congress on immediate steps when what is needed is flexibility and a clear eye on the end game. Our combat troops should leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. This will create a sense of urgency within the Afghan government to get its act together.

"American troops, including almost 20,000 men and women from North Carolina, are disrupting, dismantling and defeating terrorism in Afghanistan. We cannot throw away the significant gains they have fought so hard to achieve. What remains of al Qaeda is hiding along the Afghan-Pakistan border. We must take the opportunity to bury them there once and for all."