[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AFGHANISTAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

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                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2011

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 28, which 
would require the removal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by 
December 31, 2011.
  Last Congress, I voted to give the President a year to plan for an 
orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan. I also voted to defund military 
operations except for the minimum needed to safely withdraw. I am 
disappointed that those measures failed, but I am even more 
disappointed that the administration has not yet acted decisively to 
chart a clear course to bring our troops home.
  We are spending billions of dollars a month to prop up a corrupt 
Afghan government that has not proven capable to the challenges of 
governance. Flawed elections, rampant bribery, blatant nepotism, 
banking abuses, and a lack of accountability have crippled the best 
efforts of the international community to establish rule of law. After 
nearly a decade of conflict, it is time to step back, reevaluate, and 
correct our course.
  Thanks to the efforts and sacrifices made by our troops and coalition 
partners, we have seen successes in the fight against terrorism in 
Afghanistan. CIA Director Leon Panetta has estimated that the number of 
al Qaeda operatives remaining in Afghanistan has substantially 
diminished. We should not minimize the gains our troops have made. But 
we must recognize that when open-ended nation building eclipses our 
original military objectives, we commit our blood and treasure to an 
uncertain, costly, and unconstrained course.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not a perfect bill. But I believe it is the best 
way to send a clear message. I applaud President Obama for disengaging 
us from Iraq. Now it is time to do the same from Afghanistan. Let's do 
what it takes to bring our troops home.

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