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ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO IN ORDER.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO WITHDRAW MY REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTES ON
AMENDMENTS NUMBER 21 AND 22 TO
THE END THAT THEY STAND DISPOSED
OF BY THE VOICE VOTES THEREON.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 21,
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MR. BROUN OF
GEORGIA.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 22 PRINTED IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD,
OFFERED BY MR. BROUN OF GEORGIA.
IS THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUEST
FOR RECORDED VOTES ARE WITHDRAWN
ON AMENDMENTS NUMBER 21 AND
NUMBER 22.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE IS THE REQUEST FOR
A RODDED VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VERMONT, MR. WELCH, ON WHICH
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS WERE
POSTPONED AND WHICH THE NAYS
PREVAILED BY VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMERICA.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. WELCH OF VERMONT.
THOSE IN REQUEST OF
THE RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE AND
BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A
TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
SNOOR
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.] --
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
DOES ANY MEMBER WISH
TO CHANGE A VOTE?
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 99, THE NAYS ARE --
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 98, THE NAYS ARE 222,
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER 62 PRINTED IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN MR. AMASH ON WHICH
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS WERE
POSTPONED AND ON WHICH THE AYES
PREVAILED BY VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 62,
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD, OFFERED BY MR. AMASH OF
MICHIGAN.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF A RECORDED
VOTE WILL RISE AND BE DOWNED.
A A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN HAVING RISEN, A RECORDED
-- A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 207.
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 212, THE NAYS ARE 208,
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
SESSIONS, ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED ON
WHICH THE AYES PREVAILED BY A
VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDEZ IGS NATE
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. SESSIONS OF TEXAS.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE
AND BE COUNTED.
THIS IS A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
HAVE ALL MEMBERS
VOTED?
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 270, THE NAYS ARE 204.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER.
ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
WILL THOSE MEMBERS TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR OR
TAKE A SEAT.
MEMBERS WILL TAKE
THEIR CONVERSATIONS OFF THE
FLOOR.
THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR SEATS SO
WE CAN PROCEED WITH BUSINESS.
THE CLERK WILL READ.
PAGE 122, LINE 10,
SECTION 8128, THE SECRETARY
SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DEFENSE
COMMITTEE, A REPORT ON $100
BILLION INEFFICIENCY SAVINGS
IDENTIFIED BY MILITARY
DEPARTMENTS IN THE BUDGET
COVERING FISCAL YEARS 2012-2016.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
I MOVE TO STRIKE
THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN WILL
SUSPEND.
AGAIN, THOSE TO MY RIGHT, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
DESERVES TO BE HEARD.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN
DESERVES TO BE HEARD.
THE BODY NEEDS TO HEAR.
FLOOR.
TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OFF THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENTS TO
THIS TITLE THAT CUT FUNDS,
REDUCE OUR MILITARY FOOTPRINT
AND MOVE TO BRING OUR TROOPS
HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN AND I RISE
IN OPPOSITION TO THE UNDERLYING
BILL.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE RANKING
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE,
CONGRESSMAN DICKS FROM
WASHINGTON, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
IN CALLING FOR A FRESH LOOK AT
HOW WE CARRY OUT MILITARY
OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AND
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGY THAT
BRINGS OUR TROOPS HOME SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER.
I JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO
AFGHANISTAN.
I CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW IMPRESSED
I AM WITH THE COMMITMENT, THE
DEDICATION AND THE WORK CARRIED
OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY BY OUR MEN
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM AND THOSE
IN THE CIVILIAN SERVICES.
I MET AND SPOKE WITH THEM IN
KABUL, BASES AND AIR FORCE BASES
AND SMALL VILLAGES.
QUITE SIMPLY, THEY ARE
INCREDIBLE.
BUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, I HEARD THE SAME MESSAGE,
THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
THE STRATEGY THAT WE ARE
PURSUING IN AFGHANISTAN IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE AND IT IS COSTING US
TOO MUCH IN HUMAN LIVES AND
FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO CONTINUE.
IT CAN'T CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 18
MONTHS AS CALLED FOR BY THE
LONGER.
PRESIDENT, LET ALONE EVEN
I STAND HERE TONIGHT MORE
CONVINCED THAN EVER THAT IT IS
TIME TO FORGE A NEW PATH, A NEW
STRATEGY, BUILT UPON PAST AND
PRESENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MORE
AGGRESSIVELY FOCUSED ON REDUCING
THE MILITARY FOOTPRINT IN
AFGHANISTAN THAN THE PLAN
DESCRIBED BY THE PRESIDENT LAST
MONTH, ACCELERATING THE
TRANSITION OF COMBAT OPERATIONS
AND INTENSE INTERNATIONAL AND
REGIONAL EFFORT TO SECURE A
POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE AFGHAN
COMPLEX IN DEFINING A
COORDINATED EFFORT THAT
SAFEGUARDS THE REGION AND WORLD
FROM TERRORIST THREATS.
GENERAL PETRAEUS INVITED ME AND
TWO OTHER MEMBERS, CONGRESSMAN
WEST AND CONGRESSMAN HUNTER TO
ATTEND A CEREMONY.
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON
POLICY BUT WE FOUND THE SERMONNY
HONORING THE FALLEN SOLDIERS WHO
WERE BEING TRANSPORTED BY THE
C-130 ON THEIR FINAL JOURNEY
HOME.
1,650 AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND
WOMEN HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR
LIVES IN THE AFGHANISTAN WAR.
WHILE I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN, SIX
MORE WERE KILLED.
IT WAS A REMINDER OF THE
ENORMOUS SACRIFICE THAT OUR
SOLDIERS ARE PAYING.
2010 WAS THE DEADLIEST CONFLICT
FOR U.S. AND COALITION FORCES
AND FOR AFGHAN CIVILIANS.
THIS YEAR, 2011, IS ON PAGE TO
BE THE DEADLIEST PAGE OF THE
WAR.
WE NEED TO END THE WAR, NOT
SUSTAIN ON IT.
WE ARE BORROWING $8 BILLION, TO
$10 BILLION EACH MONTH ALONE.
BORROWING, BORROWING.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T SUSTAIN THAT
AND AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND
SECURITY FORCES DON'T HAVE THE
POLITICAL WILL TO SUSTAIN THAT
WILL OF RESOURCES ONCE WE LEAVE.
WE NEED TO FIND A NEW STRATEGY
TO BRING THIS CONFLICT TO AN
END.
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESSIONAL
LEADERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH HOW
TO DEAL WITH THE NATIONAL DEBT.
IT CAN'T BE DONE IF WE DON'T
FIND THE MEANS.
ACCORDING TO C.B.O. WE CAN SAVE
$1.3 TRILLION BY ENDING THESE
WARS, TRILLION WITH A T.
WE HAVE SPENT $3.7 TRILLION
SINCE 9/11 IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER DECADE
LIKE THE LAST ONE.
IT IS SIMPLY NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE NEED TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
JOBS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY AND
ECONOMIC STRENGTH ARE A CENTRAL
PART OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
WHILE WE SERVE AS AN A.T.M.
MACHINE FOR THE CORRUPT
GOVERNMENT IN KABUL, WE TELL OUR
OWN PEOPLE WE DON'T HAVE MONEY
HERE AT HOME.
ENOUGH.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE TO SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS THAT REDUCE OUR
SPENDING AND MILITARY FOOTPRINT
IN AFGHANISTAN.
HELP BRING OUR TROOPS HOME
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND
CALL FOR A NEW DIRECTION IN
AFGHANISTAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL BE
SUBMITTING FOR THE RECORD TWO
ARTICLES ONE FROM THE
"WASHINGTON POST" ENTITLED
"C.B.O. ENDING THE WARS" AND AN
ARTICLE THAT ARE APPEARED IN
"SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN."
MR. CHAIRMAN THE TIME HAS COME
FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND
A DIFFERENT STRATEGY IN
AFGHANISTAN, ONE THAT WILL BRING
OUR TROOPS HOME.
IT IS TIME TO END THIS WAR.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, I JOIN
IN THIS EFFORT.
I TELL YOU WITHOUT ANY PROVIDED
WITH HUMILITY, THIS PAST WEEKEND
I SIGNED 31 LETTERS TO FAMILIES
AND EXTENDED FAMILIES WHO HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES IN AFGHANISTAN
AND IRAQ.
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE SIGNED OVER
10,374 LETTERS BECAUSE OF MY
MISTAKE IN VOTING TO SEND OUR
KIDS TO IRAQ, WHICH WAS AN
UNNECESSARY WAR, WITH
MISINFORMATION LED BY THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
SO I JOIN MY COLLEAGUES TODAY ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND I
THANK THOSE WHO OFFER THIS
AMENDMENT.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, I DIVIDED TO
EMAIL MY ADVISER, WHO IS A
FORMER COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE
CORPS AND SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PLANS?
I'LL READ JUST TWO SHORT POINTS
TO YOU.
I THINK THE TIME IS TOO LONG.
I THINK HE NEEDS TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF TROOPS COMING OUT OF
THE COUNTRY MORE AND QUICKER.
AND HIS LAST POINT, GET REAL
WITH TRAINING ARMY AND POLICE
FORCES.
ALL WE ARE TRAINING ARE EVENTAL
NEW MEMBERS OF THE TALIBAN.
TRAINERS ARE DOING A WONDERFUL
JOB, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME
TO MAKE AN ARMY.
EVERY DAY, SOME ONE DICE.
EVERY DAY, AN AMERICAN DICE OR
GETS HIS OR HER -- DIES OR GETS
HIS OR HER LEGS POSTER.
THIS WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER.
AND TOO MANY TIMES AS WE DEBATE
AND ELOQUENT SPEAKERS ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, WE DON'T SEE
ANY FACES OR BROKEN ARMS OR LEGS
AND HERE IS A YOUNG LADY HOLDING
A YOUNG BABY IN HER ARMS AND THE
LITTLE BABY IS LOOKING AT THE
OFFICER WHO IS PRESENTING HER
WITH THE FLAG.
HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN
THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND WE NEVER
SEE IT?
WE HAVE TO BRING OUR TOOPS HOME.
THEY WERE ASKED TO DO
EVERYTHING, TO GET AL QAEDA THAT
BIN LADEN.
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 9/11 AND GET
WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT.
DO.
WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN
AND AS MY FRIEND FROM
MASSACHUSETTS SAID, $10 BILLION
A MONTH AND WE CAN'T FIX THE
SCHOOLS OR FIX THE ROADS HERE IN
NORTH CAROLINA AND THROUGHOUT
AMERICA.
I'M FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY
STATE AND I KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO THE OTHER STATES.
MR. SPEAKER, IT IS TIME TO BRING
THEM HOME.
WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE BABIES
COMING TO THEIR MOMS AND DADS
SAYING, WHEN IS DADDY COMING
HOME, WHEN IS MOMMY COMING HOME
AND BEEN TOLD THEY AREN'T COMING
HOME.
WE HAVE DONE ENOUGH FOR
AFGHANISTAN.
IT IS A CORRUPT LEADER AND
CORRUPT GOVERNMENT.
AND WE NEED COME TO -- WE NEED
TO COME HOME.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THERE WILL BE A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS OFFERED BY
MR. GARAMENDI, MYSELF AND MR.
JONES AND OTHERS, ALL IN VARIOUS
WAYS SEEKING TO SPEED OUR EXIT
FROM AFGHANISTAN.
I SUPPORT THEM ALL.
TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PRESIDENT
PROPOSED THAT WE CONTINUE
FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN FOR AT
LEAST 3 1/2 MORE YEARS.
IN THOSE 3 1/2 YEARS, MORE OF
OUR SOLDIERS WILL DIE, MORE OF
OUR TREASURE WILL BE SPENT AND
IN THE END, WE WILL NOT BE ANY
CLOSER TO CREATING A STABLE
AFGHANISTAN OR TO ENHANCING OUR
SAFETY.
PREMISE OF THIS WAR IS
WRONG.
FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN DOES NOT
ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
10 YEARS AGO, WE WERE ATTACKED
ON 9/11 BY AL QAEDA.
AL QAEDA HAD BASES IN
AFGHANISTAN AND AT THAT TIME, IT
MADE SENSE TO GO IN AND DESTROY
THOSE BASES, A AND WE DID.
BUT THE C.I.A. TELL US THERE ARE
AFGHANISTAN.
FEWER THAN 100 PERSONNEL IN
SO WHY ARE WE STILL FIGHTING
THERE.
WHY DO WE HAVE TROOPS IN
AFGHANISTAN AT THE END OF 2012,
TROOPS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO RISK
THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY IN A WAR
THAT HAS ALREADY CLAIMED TOO
MANY AMERICAN LIVES?
AND WE WILL CONTINUE DEPLOYING
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A MESS
WHEN WE SHOULD BE DEVOTING
TAXPAYER FUNDS TO OUR OWN
ECONOMY, OUR OWN JOBS, OUR OWN
HOUSING, OUR OWN SOCIAL PROGRAMS
AND OUR OWN EDUCATION.
AFGHANISTAN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF
WHAT IS SO FAR A 35-YEAR CIVIL
WAR.
IF WE CONTINUE ON THIS COURSE,
IN THREE YEARS, THERE WILL BE
SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE AMERICAN
SOLDIERS DEAD, SEVERAL HUNDRED
BILLION MORE DOLLARS WASTED AND
TWO OR THREE MORE PROVINCES
LABELED PACIFIED.
AS SOON AS WE LEAVE, NOW, OR IN
2014 OR 2016 OR WHENEVER, THOSE
PROVINCES WILL BECOME
UNPACIFIED.
THE TALIBAN AND THE WARLORDS
WILL STEP UP THE FIGHTING AND
THE AFGHAN CIVIL WAR WILL RESUME
ITS NATURAL COURSE.
OUR TROOPS ARE FIGHTING
VALIANTLY BUT THEY ARE ON THE
WRONG MISSION.
REBUILDING
REBUILDING AFTER FAN STAN IS
BEYOND OUR ABILITY.
TO CONTINUE THIS TERRIBLE
POLICY AT SO HIGH A COST IS
SIMPLY UNCONSCIONABLE.
IT IS UNJUSTIFIABLE TO
SACRIFICE MORE LIVES AND MONEY
ON THIS FUTILE ENDEAVOR.
WE SHOULD WITHDRAW OUR TROOPS
NOW, ALL OF THEM, AS RAPIDLY AS
PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF
WORDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ON MARCH 16, 2011, I JOINED MY
CO-CHAIRS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
CAUCUS ON PEACE AND SECURITY IN
SENDING A LETTER TO THE
PRESIDENT ASKING THEM TO MOVE
SWIFTLY TO END AMERICA'S
LONGEST WAR, THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN.
SIPS THEN THE
CO-CHAIRS HAVE CALLED ON THE
ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE TOWARD
THE SWIFT AND SIZABLE REDUCTION
OF THE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.
MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE NUMBER
OF TROOPS ON THE GROUND BEFORE
THIS REVISION.
WE CALL FOR A -- EVEN THE U.S.
CONFERENCE OF MAYORS CALLED FOR
AN END TO THE AFGHANISTAN WAR.
IN POLL AFTER POLL, THE
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE
CONSISTENTLY CALLING FOR AN END
TO THIS WAR.
A SIGNIFICANT REDEPLOYMENT OF
U.S. TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN
BEGINNING THIS MONTH WOULD HAVE
SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE
UNITED STATES DOES NOT SEEK A
PERMANENT PRESENCE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THIS MOVE WOULD RECOGNIZE WE
CANNOT AFFORD THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN COSTING NEARLY $10
BILLION PER MONTH WHILE
AMERICAN FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO
STAY AFLOAT AMID THE SLOW
RECOVERY OUR NATION'S ECONOMY.
THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE C.P.C.
TASK FORCE ON PEACE AND
SECURITY BELIEVE THAT A
SIGNIFICANT, SWIFT, AN SIZABLE
TROOP REDUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN
IS NECESSARY.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT
THE C.B.O. REPORTED RECENTLY
THAT ENDING THE WARS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ WILL SAVE
THIS COUNTRY $1.7 TRILLION AND
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT
A RECENT BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDY
SHOWS THAT THE UNITED STATES
HAS SPENT $3.7 TRILLION IN
THESE WARS SINCE 2001.
ANYTHING LESS HURT OURS
NATION'S FUTURE AND IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
IT IS TIME TO FOCUS ON SECURING
A FUTURE OF ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY FOR
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE
PRESIDENT MUST MOVE SWIFTLY AND
BOLDLY TO END THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN AND BRING OUR
TROOPS HOME NOW.
THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT
LAST MONTH DOES NOT REFLECT A
SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THIS STRATEGY DOES NOT
REPRESENT A DRAWDOWN IN
AFGHANISTAN BUT RATHER AIMS AT
MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO
THROUGH THE END OF 2012.
SIMPLY REMOVING THE 30,000
SURGE TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN
MEANS THAT BY THE END OF THE
SUMMER OF 2012, WE'LL BE
EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE IN LATE
2009.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN
SOLDIERS CONTINUE TO FIGHT A
BATTLE THAT THEIR COMMANDERS
INSIST WILL ONLY END WITH A
POLITICAL SOLUTION.
PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN WILL
DEPEND ULTIMATELY ON AN AFGHAN
SOLUTION, NOT ON AMERICAN
SOLDIERS.
EVERYONE SEEMS TIRED OF THIS
WAR BUT REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON -- FROM
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN
WASHINGTON, TO AFGHANS IN KABUL
TO AMERICANS A KANSAS.
OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DUE
TO AMERICA'S DEBT AN DEFICITS,
WAR COSTS $120 BILLION ANNUALLY
FOR AFGHANISTAN ALONE ARE NO
LONGER SUSTAINABLE.
REPUBLICANS GAINED SIMILAR
GROUND WITH DEFENSE
SUBCOMMITTEE JACK KINGSTON AND
OTHERS EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT
THE COST, THE MISSION AND LACK
OF PROGRESS.
SENATORS ALSO CALLED FOR TROOP
WITHDRAWAL.
NEARLY HALF THE HOUSE WEIGHED
IN WITH A CALL FOR AN
ACCELERATED PLAN TO DRAW DOWN
TROOPS AND TRANSITION TO AFGHAN
CONTROL.
CONSIDER THE AFGHANS WHO ARE AT
THE RECEIVING END OF ALL OF
THIS.
AFTER A SERIES OF SERIOUS
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RESULTING
FROM MULTIPLE INDISCRIMINATE
NATO BOMBINGS, AFGHAN PRESIDENT
HAMID KARZAI DECLARED
OPPOSITION TO ANY AND ALL AIR
STRIKES ON AFGHAN HOMES.
THIS ADDS TO THE CALL FOR THEM
TO END NIGHT ROADS AND STAY OFF
ROADS AND OUT OF AFGHAN
VILLAGES.
THE AFGHAN PEOPLE ARE NO MORE
PLEASED WITH KARZAI WITH
AMERICA'S CONTINUED PRESENCE,
HARDLY A SURPRISE GIVEN THAT
GENERAL PETRAEUS HAS INCREASED
BOMBING BY 80% IN THE LAST YEAR
ALONE.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL,
NEARLY 6-10 AFGHANS STAID
WESTERN TROOPS MUST LEAVE ON OR
BEFORE THE ORIGINAL JULY, 2011
WITHDRAWAL DATE.
ONLY 27% SAY THE DEEMPLOYMENT
SHOULD BE MAINTAINED LONGER.
AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF AMERICAN TAX DOLLAR
THE SECURITY AND DAY-TO-DAY
LIFE IN MANY REGIONS OF
AFGHANISTAN ISN'T IMPROVING.
CRIME, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AN
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ARE GETTING
WORSE, NOT BETTER.
AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRICITY,
FOOD, MEDICAL CARE AND SCHOOLS
HAS SHOWN LITTLE OR NO
IMPROVEMENT.
IN RECENT YEARS.
SO FOR ALL THESE REASONS AND
MORE THE CASE IS CLEAR SO THEY
-- WE NEED TO END THIS WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE UNDERLYING
BILL AND WILL SEEK AN AMENDMENT
SHORTLY.
MEMORIAL DAY WAS A TIME WHEN
FOUR OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I
TRAVELED THROUGHOUT
AFGHANISTAN.
WE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL, AND
WHAT WE DID LEARN WE BROUGHT
HOME.
1,650 AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN
HAVE DIED IN AFGHANISTAN AND
YET THE INCREDIBLE DEDICATION
OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS WAS EASY
TO SEE.
THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES EVERY
DAY.
IT WAS WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT
THAT WE HONOR THEM ON MEMORIAL
DAY AND BEYOND.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE
PRESIDENT AND RECOGNIZE THE
DIFFICULT SITUATION AND
DECISION HE MUST MAKE.
FRANKLY, I THINK HE MADE THE
WRONG DECISION.
THE KILLING OF BIN LADEN GAVE
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PIVOT, TO
GO IN THE DIRECTION WE MUST
ULTIMATELY GO, WHICH IS TO
FOCUS LIKE A LASER ON AL QAEDA
WHEREVER IT IS IN THIS WORLD,
INCLUDING OUR OWN COUNTRY.
WE MUST DO THAT.
AND YET THE DECISION TO
MAINTAIN IN AFGHANISTAN A TROOP
LEVEL THAT REALLY REFLECTS WHAT
EXISTED IN 2009 IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
IT'S COSTING US A FORTUNE.
A FORTUNE THAT WE COULD ILL
AFFORD.
THIS ENTIRE TOWN IS CAUGHT UP
IN A DEBATE OVER THE DEFICIT.
AND THE PENDING DEFAULT CRISIS.
YET WE SEEM TO WANT TO CONTINUE
TO POUR MONEY INTO AFGHANISTAN,
INTO A FIVE-WAY CIVIL WAR FOR
WHICH THERE IS NO MILITARY
SOLUTION.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL.
YET IS THIS COUNTRY PUSHING
FORWARD THE NEGOTIATIONS?
IF SO, IT'S IN SECRET.
I CERTAINLY HOPE IT IS THERE.
BECAUSE THEREIN LIES THE
SOLUTION.
I THINK WE DON'T NEED 100,000,
50,000, 60,000 TROOPS IN
AFGHANISTAN.
WE REALLY ONLY NEED A HANDFUL
TO FOCUS ON AL QAEDA.
WHEREVER THEY MAY BE IN THAT
REGION.
AND SO IF WE WERE TO DRAW DOWN
OUR TROOPS IN THE NEXT 18
MONTHS TO 25,000 IN AFGHANISTAN
AND THEN 10,000 IN 2013, WE
WOULD BE BEGIN TO GET TO A
LEVEL OVER AN APPROPRIATE
COURSE OF TIME AND IT IS THIS
HOUSE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT
FORTH A -- AN APPROPRIATION
BILL THAT PROVIDES MONEY FOR
ONLY THAT.
AND NO MORE.
TO LIMIT THE FUNDING.
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THE PRESIDENT
HAS THE POWER TO INITIATE A
WAR.
IT'S EQUALLY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE
THE ONLY POWER, THE ONLY POWER
TO FUND THE WAR.
AND IF WE SAY NO, THEN THIS WAR
WILL CEASE.
IF WE SAY ONLY THIS AMOUNT OF
MONEY, FOR ONLY THIS PURPOSE,
THEN THIS WAR WILL RAPIDLY
DOMAINISH.
THERE WILL BE AMENDMENTS ON THE
FLOOR SHORTLY TO ACHIEVE THAT
GOAL.
AND WE OUGHT TO PROCEED IN THAT
WAY.
WE NEED TO REBUILD AMERICA.
WE NEED TO BRING THE MONEY AND
THE TROOPS HOME.
AND REBUILD THIS NATION.
WE CAN DO SO WHEN THIS WAR IS
OVER.
UNTIL THEN, THIS IS A -- THIS
IS SOMETHING INTO WHICH WE ARE
POURING THE LIVES OF AMERICAN
MEN AND WOMEN, AND AFGHAN MEN
AND WOMEN, AND OUR TREASURE TO
THE DETRIMENT OF THIS NATION'S
ECONOMIC STRENGTH.
I OPPOSE THIS WAR ALONG WITH MY
COLLEAGUES AND I'D ASK THIS
HOUSE, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
ALIKE, TO USE THE POWER OF THE
PURSE TO BRING THIS WAR TO A
RAPID AND APPROPRIATE CLOSE.
AND FUND THE NEGOTIATIONS.
FUND THE WAR ON AL QAEDA, NOT
THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELD?
YES.
MR. --
WE'RE BORROWING $2.3 BILLION
PER WEEK, $28.3 MILLION PER --
BILLION PER DAY.
WE ARE HAVING A DEBATE RIGHT
NOW OVER HOW WE GET THE DEBT
UNDER CONTROL AND THESE
BORROWED MONEYS ARE NOT EVEN A
SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION.
IF YOU WANT TO
GET THE DEBT DOWN, YOU HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THE WAR COSTS AND I
CAN'T BELIEVE FOR THOSE
ADVOCATING THE STATUS QUO THAT
THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.
IT'S GOING ON A CREDIT CARD.
I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
THIS IS AN ENORMOUS COST TO US
HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN.
RECLAIMING MY
TIME --
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED.
I AM OPPOSED TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL TO WITHDRAW OUR
TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE
PRESIDENT MADE AN IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENT, HE PLANS TO
WITHDRAW 10,000 TROOPS FROM
AFGHANISTAN IN A MONTH AND
ANOTHER 20,000 BY NEXT SUMMER.
I COMMEND THE
PRESIDENT FOR DRAWING THROUGH
-- FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH A
DRAWDOWN PLAN.
BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
CRYING FOR A SIGNIFICANT
DRAWDOWN AND WE ARE STILL TOO
FAR FROM THAT.
EVEN AFTER THE TROOPS COME
HOME, WHICH WON'T BE FOR
ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF, WE
WILL STILL BE EXACTLY WHERE WE
WERE IN 2009.
70,000 AMERICAN SOLDIERS WILL
STILL BE SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN
AND I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER
WHY.
THE ONGOING FINANCIAL AND HUMAN
COST OF THIS WAR ARE NOW
INDEFENSIBLE.
THE WAR EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN
WE SPEND $2 BILLION A WEEK ON
AND WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT OUR
OWN MONEY IS WORKING AGAINST
US.
LAST YEAR, I WAS OUTRAGED TO
LEARN THAT TAXPAYERS ARE
SPENDING $2.16 BILLION ON
PRIVATE CONTRACTORS IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THESE CONTRACTORS USE PART OF
THE MONEY TO PAY OFF LOCAL WAR
LORDS WHICH THEN END UP IN THE
TALIBAN'S HANDS.
IN EFFECT, WE'RE FUNDING BOTH
SIDES OF THE SAME WAR.
THIS CORRUPTION AND WASTE OF
HARD-EARNED AMERICAN DOLLARS IS
THE DIRECT RESULT OF UNRELIABLE
COUNSEL AND A LACK OF
PERSPECTIVE AND IT'S COSTING US
A WHOPPING $100 BILLION A YEAR.
THAT'S FIVE TIMES MORE THAN WE
SPEND ON PELL GRANTS EVERY
YEAR.
FINANCIAL AID TO PUT AMERICAN
KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE.
THAT'S DOUBLE WHAT WE SPEND ON
MEDICAID THAT KEEPS ALL
AMERICANS HEALTHY REGARDLESS OF
INCOME.
AND $100 BILLION WOULD
COMPLETELY PAY FOR THE HOMELAND
SECURITY DEPARTMENT, COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF SIPES
AND THE ENTIRE JUDICIAL BRANCH
COMBINED.
WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT AND
CONGRESS IS TRYING TO SLASH
MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY TO
KEEP THIS NATION AFLOAT, IT IS
IRRESPONSIBLE TO KEEP WRITING
BLANK CHECKS FOR THIS WAR.
BUT SADLY, THAT'S NOT THE
LARGEST TOLL OF THIS WAR.
SINCE 9/11, WE'VE LOST OVER
1,600 AMERICAN LIVES, OVER
11,000 TROOPS HAVE BEEN WOUNDED
AND AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF AFGHAN
CIVILIANS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES
AFTER A DECADE OF WAR.
AND IT'S NOT GETTING ANY
BETTER.
IN FACT, LAST YEAR WAS THE MOST
DEADLY YEAR ON RECORD FOR U.S.
TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.
AL QAEDA IS NO LONGER IN
AFGHANISTAN BUT SCATTERED
AROUND THE WORLD.
IT DID NOT TAKE 100,000 TROOPS
TO FIND OSAMA BIN LADEN AND IT
DOES NOT TAKE A MILITARY
OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN TO
PROTECT US FROM TERRORIST
THREATS.
BY FAILING TO DRAW DOWN THE
NUMBER OF TROOPS IN
AFGHANISTAN, WE CONTINUE TO
FOCUS EFFORTS AWAY FROM THE
TERRORISTS AND NEEDLESSLY PUT
AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE LINE
OF FIRE.
BUT THIS STORY IS ABOUT MORE
THAN NUMBERS AND FIGURES, ABOUT
IT'S REAL PEOPLE WHO SACRIFICE
EVERYTHING TO KEEP US SAFE.
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 3, OF THIS
YEAR, A 21-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MARINE
NAMED HARRY LU DIED WHILE
SERVING THE COUNTRY IN
AFGHANISTAN.
HE WAS A SON OF SANDY AND ALLEN
HE WAS MY NEPHEW.
LU, THE SISTER OF CARMEN LU, AND
HARRY DIED WHILE SERVING ON
WATCH DUDEY -- DUTY IN HELMAND
PROVINCE.
HIS UNIT'S GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE
SECURITY TO LOCALS.
BUT THREE SHORT MONTHS BEFORE HE
WAS SET TO RETURN HOME HE WAS
GONE.
ENDING THIS YEAR -- THIS WAR
WILL SAVE AMERICAN LIVES.
ENDING IT WILL LET US FOCUS ON
FIGHTING TERRORISM AROUND THE
DEMROBE.
ENDING THE WAR WILL SAVE MONEY
-- GLOBE.
ENDING WAR WILL SAVE MONEY AT A
TIME WHEN WE NEED IT MOST.
IT IS TIME TO END THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN, BRING OUR TROOPS
HOME AND BEGIN SERIOUSLY
ADDRESSING OUR REAL SECURITY
NEEDS.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I RISE
ONLY BECAUSE I CAN'T HELP BUT BE
MOVED BY THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS'
INTEREST IN GETTING US OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
I KNOW OF THOSE WHO ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT AMERICA BEING
INVOLVED IN WARS ANYWHERE, IT IS
NOT MY INTENTION TO SPEAK ABOUT
THIS SUBJECT UNTIL I HEARD MY
FRIEND, MR. GARAMENDI FROM
CALIFORNIA, WHO HAS AN AMENDMENT
LATER THAT WOULD STRIKE THE
FUNDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2
MONTHS OF THIS EFFORT IN
AFGHANISTAN.
AS I THOUGHT ABOUT
THAT, I WOULD WANT TO CAUTION MY
FRIEND, MR. GARAMENDI, AND
OTHERS ABOUT THE ROLE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
INDEED IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
KNOW.
THOSE OF US WHO MAY HAVE READ
"CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR," I'M SURE
MY COLLEAGUE HAS READ IT
THOROUGHLY, BUT CHARLIE WILSON
WAS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE ON THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEFENSE WHO
FIRST RAISED THE PROSPECT OF
CHALLENGES IN AFGHANISTAN.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME THE SOVIET
UNION WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE
INTO AFGHANISTAN TO TAKE OVER
THAT ENTIRE COUNTRY.
GIVING THEM ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE
REGION.
IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR, IN MY
JUDGMENT, THE EFFORT MADE AS A
RESULT OF TCHARLY -- CHARLIE
WILSON'S WAR, AND THE EFFORTS OF
POPE JOHN PAUL WHO WAS THEN THE
BISHOP FROM POLAND, PERHAPS THIS
VERY -- IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THE
SOVIET UNION NEVER WOULD HAVE
FALLEN.
BUT INDEED CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR
CREATED A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THE
SOVIETS DID WITHDRAW FROM
AFGHANISTAN AND SO WE ARE RIGHT
ON THE EDGE OF OPPORTUNITY AND
PEACE AND FREEDOM IN AFGHANISTAN
AND WHAT I'D CAUTION MY
COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA ABOUT
IS FOLLOWING THAT, WHAT DID
AMERICA DO?
AMERICA DID WHAT WE OFTEN DO IN
THE WORLD WHERE THERE ARE STRIFE
AND STRUGGLE, WHERE WE'RE ASKED
TO PLAY A ROLE IN LEADERSHIP,
CHANGE FOR PEACE.
PROVIDING FOR OPPORTUNITY AND
THE VACUUM THAT WAS LEFT IN
AFGHANISTAN AS A RESULT OF OUR
WALKING AWAY AFTER THE WAR,
AFTER THE SOVIETS LEFT, WAS THAT
VACUUM AND WITHIN THE VACUUM
THERE CAME TERRORISTS WHO WOULD
HAVE AMERICA AND FREEDOM IN
MIND.
INDEED AS A RESULT OF THAT
VACUUM AL QAEDA, TALIBAN AND
OTHERS GOT STRENGTH AND FOUND
INVOLVED IN A WAR THAT INVOLVES
TERRORIST CENTER AND NOW WE'RE
THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD, NOT
JUST PEACE FOR THE WORLD, BUT
AMERICAN PEACE AS WELL.
INDEED, I WOULD BE VERY CAUTION
AS WE GO ABOUT -- CAUTIOUS AS WE
GO ABOUT SUGGESTING THAT WE
AUTOMATICALLY WALK AWAY FROM THE
COMMANDER IN CHIEF'S PLAN.
INDEED IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL,
THE VACUUM WILL CATCH UP WITH US
AND AMERICA WILL FIND ITSELF IN
A MUCH BROADER AND A MUCH MORE
INTENSE STRUGGLE.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
WOULD THE GENTLEMAN YIELD?
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE RISE?
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
BEFORE I YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE
FROM CALIFORNIA TO RESPOND, I
WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, I
APPRECIATED MR. LEWIS' HISTORY,
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT
AL QAEDA COULD HAVE FOUND A BASE
IN YEMEN, THEY COULD HAVE FOUND
A BASE IN THE SUDAN, THEY COULD
HAVE FOUND A BASE IN OTHER
PLACES.
THERE WAS NOTHING PARTICULARLY
UNIQUE ABOUT AFGHANISTAN THAT
ALLOWED THEM TO HAVE THAT BASE
THERE.
THE FACT IS WE WENT INTO A
COUNTRY TO FIGHT AL QAEDA WHO
WAS ALL IN THE MOUNTAINS IN
PAKISTAN AND EVEN IN THE CITIES
IN PAKISTAN, PROBABLY WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAKISTANI
GOVERNMENT.
AND WE'VE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY
AND LIVES IN AN AREA WHERE WE
DIDN'T NEED TO BE, BECAUSE THAT
WAR WILL CONTINUE.
THERE ARE ONLY 100 AL QAEDA GIVE
OR TAKE LEFT IN AFGHANISTAN.
BUT THERE ARE AL QAEDA IN OTHER
SPOTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND AL QAEDA'S PEOPLE HAVE
PLOTTED TERRORIST ACTIVITIES
FROM GERMANY AND FROM OTHER
PLACES IN EUROPE.
THEY DON'T NEED OSAMA BIN
LADEN'S BASE TO HAVE ACTIVITY.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU NEED -- AS
FAR AS THE SOVIET UNION, THE
SOVIET UNION WENT DOWN FOR
GOODLY REASONS, BECAUSE OF ALL
THE MONEY THEY SPENT IN
AFGHANISTAN.
TRUE, WE WERE THERE FIGHTING
THEM, BUT THEIR ATTEMPT AT
GAINING EMPIRE, WHICH HAS BEEN
THE LOSS OF MANY EMPIRES,
STRETCHING TOO FAR AND GOING
BEYOND THEIR SUPPLY LINES,
KILLED THEM.
THEY SPENT MONEY THERE AND
THEY'D LIKE US TO STAY THERE.
THEY'RE BEING REAL NICE TO US.
THEY'RE HELPING US WITH BASES,
TO BRING IN ARMAMENTS AND TROOPS
AND SUPPLIES.
COME ON, AMERICA.
SPEND YOUR MONEY.
BREAK YOUR GOVERNMENT.
BROKEN.
COME LIKE -- BECOME LIKE WE ARE,
IT WAS A MISTAKE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GET
OUT OF AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE WE'RE
LOSING LIVES AND MONEY AND DOING
IT FOR REASONS THAT'S NOT GOING
TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY ANY BETTER.
MR. LEWIS TALKED ABOUT STRIFE IN
PLACES IN AFGHANISTAN.
I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT STRIFE IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN
MY CITY, IN DETROIT, IN
PHILADELPHIA, IN BOSTON, IN
CHICAGO.
YOU GO TO THE INNER CITIES IN
AMERICA AND YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE
WITHOUT HOPE AND WITHOUT
OPPORTUNITY.
THAT'S WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS TO BE BUILT.
BE REFORMED.
THAT'S WHERE EDUCATION NEEDS TO
NOT IN PROJECTS IN AFGHANISTAN,
BUT IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE CONFERENCE
OF MAYORS SAID, THAT WE CANNOT
AFFORD THIS WHILE OUR CITIES GO
TO DECAY AND OUR PEOPLE LOSE
THEIR OPPORTUNITY AND OUR MIDDLE
CLASS IS DESTROYED.
WE FIGHT A WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
WHICH WAS THE WAR OF ANOTHER
GENERATION, WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE
LEARNED FROM HISTORY, IN THE
SOVIETS' EXPERIENCE AND WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM.
IF YOU DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY,
YOU'RE DOOMED TO MAKE THE SAME
MISTAKES AND I SEE THAT
HAPPENING.
ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN SAID
NATIONAL DEBT IS OUR BIGGEST
SECURITY THREAT.
ADMIRAL MULLEN, NATIONAL DEBT IS
OUR BIGGEST SECURITY THREAT.
HE SAID IT AT BREAKFAST
RECENTLY, JUST LAST MONTH IN A
TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS, THAT THAT
IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A SECURITY
DEBT ZSH A PROBLEM LIKE THAT
THAT'S A SECURITY INTEREST, YOU
GO TO THE BIGGEST SPOT WHERE YOU
CAN SAVE MONEY, THE DEFENSE
BUDGET IN THIS WAR THAT IS
DRAINING AND HAS COST US SO
MUCH.
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.
MR. GAR MENDY, I'D LIKE TO YIELD
TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME
-- MR. GARAMENDI, I'D LIKE TO
YIELD TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WERE
SOME THINGS ADDRESSED TO YOU.
I YIELD TO -- ALL RIGHT.
BUT I HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS
COMING WHICH I'M GOING TO OFFER
THAT WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY WE SPEND WITH THE FORCES
AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE
SPEND WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE
AND THE DEVELOPMENT THERE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THE FACT IS JUST LIKE IN IRAQ WE
PUT IN EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS
AND THEN WE LEAVE AND THEY DON'T
HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN
THOSE BUILDINGS.
IT GOES TO WASTE.
OR MAINTAIN THAT EQUIPMENT AND
WE DON'T NEED TO BE WASTING OUR
RESOURCES, LEAVING THEM THERE
WHERE THEY WILL JUST GO TO
WASTE.
WE NEED TO SPEND THOSE RESOURCES
IN AMERICA AND CREATE JOBS IN
AMERICA, HAVE HOPE AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA AND I'D
LIKE TO YIELD WHATEVER REMAINING
TIME I HAVE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS COMMENTS.
I WISH WE WERE MORE CAUTIOUS IN
THE WAY WE COMMITTED OUR YOUNG
MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FIELD OF
BATTLE.
WE NEED TO BE -- IT'S
POLITICIANS THAT PUT OUR SERVICE
MEN AND WOMEN IN HARM'S WAY AND
IT'S POLITICIANS THAT KEEP THIS
WAR GOING.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
WE HAVE AN UNRELIABLE PARTNER IN
AFGHANISTAN.
PRESIDENT KARZAI IS CORRUPT, HE
FIXED THE LAST ELECTION.
I MEAN, HE'S DENIGRATING OUR
SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN.
WHEN I WAS OVER THERE ONE OF OUR
SOLDIERS FROM MASSACHUSETTS SAID
TO ME, WHAT BOTHERS ME MOST IS
WE'RE RISKING OUR LIVES TO TRY
TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THIS
COUNTRY, MR. KARZAI, YOU KNOW,
DENIGRATES US, DIMINISHES WHAT
WE DO.
CALLS US NAMES.
ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF
USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THE MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIER SAID
TO ME, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
FEELS LIKE?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS
LIKE?
LOOK, WE NEED TO RETHINK OUR
POLICY IN AFGHANISTAN.
NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT WALKING
AWAY, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THIS
CURRENT POLICY -- WE'RE GOING
BROKE.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD MY TIME TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
GARAMENDI.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FROM KATRINA.
PREVIOUSLY MY GOOD FRIEND --
CALIFORNIA.
PREVIOUSLY MY GOOD FRIEND WITH
WHOM I'VE WORKED CHALLENGED ME
ON THE POSITION I TAKE WITH
REGARD TO WINDING DOWN QUICKLY
THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.
HIS REPRESENTATION OF HISTORY
WAS WOEFULLY INCOMPLETE.
MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE NOW FIGHT
WAS ACTUALLY BEGUN BY --
FIGHTING WAS BEGUN BY CHARLIE
WILSON.
MORPHED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME,
PERHAPS BY PAKISTAN.
BUT WE'RE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF A CIVIL WAR.
NOT JUST A CIVIL WAR BUT A
FIVE-WAY CIVIL WAR, ONE THAT'S
GONE ON FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 35
YEARS.
AND WE ARE, AS MY FRIEND, MR.
MCGOVERN JUST STATED, BACKING A
GOVERNMENT THAT IS ON THE FACE
OF IT CORRUPT BY ANY STANDARD.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
WHEN IN FACT WE WENT INTO
AFGHANISTAN TO GET AL QAEDA AND
WE DID.
THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL THAT ARE
THERE, PROBABLY FAR MORE AL
QAEDA SYMPATHIZERS AND ACTIVISTS
IN THE UNITED STATES THAN IN
AFGHANISTAN.
SO WHY DO WE HAVE OVER 100,000
AMERICAN TROOPS AND ANOTHER
40,000 NATO TROOPS?
IN AFGHANISTAN?
I DID NOT SUGGEST THAT WE LEAVE
A VACUUM.
INSTEAD I SUGGEST WE LEAVE A
SMALL FORCE BEHIND THAT GOES
AFTER AL QAEDA.
TAKE THEM OUT.
WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN TO BE.
BRING OUR TROOPS BACK HOME.
GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MISSION
IN AFGHANISTAN, GO AFTER AL
QAEDA.
AND YOU'RE QUITE CORRECT, MY
COLLEAGUES, THEY'RE IN SOMALIA,
THEY'RE IN YEMEN, THEY'RE IN
OTHER PARTS OF THIS WORLD.
AND THE MORE TROOPS WE HAVE IN
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE MORE
REASON WE GIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT
TO RECRUIT YET MORE AL QAEDA
MEMBERS.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE GOING
FORWARD.
YES, WE WILL HAVE A CONTINUING
OBLIGATION, BUT IF YOU TAKE A
LOOK AT THE STRATEGY THAT IS NOW
IN PLACE, ONE THAT CALLS UPON
AMERICA TO MAINTAIN ITS TROOPS,
THEN YOU CAN COUNT ON A LARGER
DEFICIT.
THAT MAKE NOES SENSE TO ME.
-- MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
LET'S BRING OUR TROOPS HOME
RAPIDLY.
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE ON
THE FLOOR WILL CAUSE THAT WHO
HAPPEN -- TO HAPPEN.
HERE.
WE HAVE THE POWER OF THE PURSE
THIS NATION CAN NO LONGER
SUSTAIN $120 BILLION A YEAR IN
AFGHANISTAN WHEN OUR BRIDGES ARE
CRUMBLING, WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE
NOT EDUCATED, WHEN WE CANNOT
AFFORD AND JUSTIFY THE BUDGET
YOU'RE PUTTING FORTH CANNOT
AFFORD TO FEED OUR CHILDREN,
CARE FOR OUR ELDERLY.
THIS WILL NOT STAND AND IT MUST
END SOON.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE
PRESIDENT BUT HE'S GOT THE WRONG
STRATEGY.
HE'S CONTINUING ON THE STRATEGY
THAT BY THE PROOF ON THE GROUND
DOES NOT WORK.
PIVOT, GO BACK TO WHAT WE ONCE
SAID WAS OUR GOAL.
GET AL QAEDA.
TAKE THEM OUT.
WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN TO BE.
AND WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT, WE
HAVE DONE IT AND ANYBODY THAT
WANTS TO PLAY THE AL QAEDA GAME
ON THEIR SIDE, KNOW THAT THIS
NATION HAS THE CAPABILITY TO
TAKE YOU OUT.
MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. LEWIS, THE
NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO RECITE THE
HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN, RECITE
HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN.
INCLUDING THIS NATION'S 10-YEAR
EFFORT AND ALL OF THE MISTAKES
LET US NOT COMPOUND THOSE
THAT WE'VE MADE.
MISTAKES BY CONTINUING THE SAME
COURSE FOR ANOTHER THREE, FOUR,
FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND.
IT'S TIME TO END THIS WAR.
IT'S TIME TO FOCUS ON THE TRUE
ENEMY HERE, AL QAEDA.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS
ONE MINUTE REMAINING.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD BACK THE
