[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 911 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 911

    Expressing the sense of the House that the United States should 
 increase United States forces in Afghanistan and responsibly redeploy 
                           forces from Iraq.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2007

  Mr. Smith of Washington (for himself and Mr. Skelton) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
  Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the House that the United States should 
 increase United States forces in Afghanistan and responsibly redeploy 
                           forces from Iraq.

Whereas the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, were 
        perpetrated by al Qaeda, whose top leadership operated out of a safe 
        haven in Afghanistan;
Whereas despite the end of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001, a 
        persistent insurgency supported by the Taliban and al Qaeda has 
        continued to threaten the security and stability of Afghanistan;
Whereas the security and stabilization of Afghanistan is in the vital national 
        security interests of the United States in order to prevent the return 
        of a safe haven for al Qaeda and the Taliban;
Whereas the July 2007 United States National Intelligence Estimate concluded 
        that ``Al-Qa'ida is and will remain the most serious terrorist threat to 
        the Homeland'' and that ``the group has protected or regenerated key 
        elements of its Homeland attack capability, including a safe haven in 
        the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (`FATA'),'' located 
        along the border with Afghanistan;
Whereas the United Nations Half-Year Review of the Security Situation in 
        Afghanistan found the country is suffering its most violent year since 
        2001; and in the first eight months of 2007, suicide bombings alone 
        increased 69 percent over the same period last year;
Whereas despite tactical achievements in combating the renewed insurgency in 
        Afghanistan in 2007, the Taliban has reportedly been able to expand its 
        geographical presence in the country, and its command structure remains 
        mostly intact and is believed to be working with Al Qaeda leaders;
Whereas in late 2007, an assessment by the President's National Security Council 
        reportedly concluded that the United States' strategic goals for the 
        security and stabilization of Afghanistan for 2007 have not been met;
Whereas since the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, the United 
        States Government has spent less than 28 cents on Department of Defense 
        activities in Afghanistan and in other Operation Enduring Freedom 
        countries for every dollar spent on similar activities in Iraq;
Whereas since the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, the United 
        States Government has spent less than 31 cents on foreign aid and 
        diplomatic operations activities in Afghanistan and in other Operation 
        Enduring Freedom countries for every dollar spent on similar activities 
        in Iraq;
Whereas as of December 1, 2007, the United States maintained approximately 
        25,000 troops in Afghanistan and over 160,000 troops in Iraq;
Whereas as of November 14, 2007, the United States Combined Security Transition 
        Command-Afghanistan (``CSTC-A'') reported shortfalls of 2,410 required 
        United States personnel to train and mentor the Afghan National Security 
        Forces;
Whereas as of December 8, 2007, the NATO International Security Assistance Force 
        in Afghanistan (``NATO-ISAF'') reported significant force shortfalls, 
        including the need for 3 additional maneuver battalions for NATO-ISAF 
        missions, 25 Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams to train the Afghan 
        National Army, and 2 Provincial Reconstruction Teams;
Whereas the ability of the United States to devote adequate levels of troops, 
        funding, and other resources to the security and stability mission in 
        Afghanistan is constrained by United States commitments to Operation 
        Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on December 11, 
        2007, Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
        stated, ``Our main focus, militarily, in the region and in the world 
        right now is rightly and firmly in Iraq. It is simply a matter of 
        resources, of capacity. In Afghanistan, we do what we can. In Iraq, we 
        do what we must'';
Whereas in 2007, the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James 
        T. Conaway, advocated for a redeployment of United States Marines from 
        Iraq to Afghanistan, and the United States Special Operations Command 
        advocated for a more active role for its forces in Afghanistan;
Whereas the United States Congress and the congressionally-commissioned Iraq 
        Study Group have declared support for a responsible redeployment of 
        United States forces in Iraq and a narrowing of the mission of United 
        States forces to targeted counterterrorism activities, training and 
        equipping Iraqi security forces, and protection of United States 
        citizens and facilities;
Whereas the President anticipates maintaining at least 130,000 United States 
        troops in Iraq through July 2008, roughly the same number as in December 
        2006; and
Whereas the President has not announced any significant increases in United 
        States force levels in Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the United States House of 
Representatives that--
            (1) the United States, in concert with its international 
        partners, should strengthen its overall long-term commitment to 
        securing and stabilizing Afghanistan and contribute the 
        necessary levels of economic, civilian, and military resources 
        to achieve that end;
            (2) the United States, in concert with its international 
        partners, should increase its military force levels in 
        Afghanistan to a level sufficient to significantly improve 
        security and stability in the country, prevent the return of a 
        save haven for al Qaeda and the Taliban, and enhance the 
        ability of the Afghan National Security Forces to maintain 
        long-term security and stability; and
            (3) in order to provide for sufficient forces in 
        Afghanistan, and for other critical reasons, the United States 
        should responsibly redeploy those military forces in Iraq not 
        essential for targeted counterterrorism activities, training 
        and equipping Iraqi security forces, or protection of United 
        States citizens and facilities.
                                 <all>