[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 178 (Thursday, December 3, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H13471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            AFGHANISTAN PLAN

  (Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I commend the President for finally making 
the right decision to send additional combat troops to Afghanistan. 
However, I have deep concerns with the President's insistence on a hard 
July 2011 deadline for withdrawal.
  The President seeks to send our troops into battle while at the same 
time notifying our enemies of when they will be coming home. And to 
confuse matters more, the President also spoke of making decisions 
based on conditions on the ground.
  So which is it, a withdrawal on a date certain, or based on the 
conditions on the ground?
  The President offers many what-ifs but very few answers. Our Nation's 
troops have fought admirably in dangerous conditions to turn the tide 
against those who attacked our Nation on September 11. The President 
cannot have it both ways, and I urge him to focus this new strategy on 
victory and not withdrawal.

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