[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 75 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E986-E987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ANN MARIE BUERKLE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1540) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes:

  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Chaffetz 
Amendment to H.R. 1540, the Defense Authorization Bill. The amendment, 
if passed, would require the immediate withdrawal of troops from 
Afghanistan with certain limited counterterrorism operations permitted 
to remain on the ground.
  I appreciate the motivation behind the amendment because I too 
question the wisdom of our continued presence in Afghanistan. We are 
engaged in a protracted war there, and unlike our operations in Iraq, 
have yet to see stability and a solid foundation for independence 
emerge from the sacrifice of our men and women serving in Operation 
Enduring Freedom.
  While I believe that it is time to commence a timely discussion 
regarding Afghanistan, I do not believe that this amendment to the 
defense bill is the answer. The amendment short circuits the process 
necessary for thoughtful action and does not regard seriously the 
impact of the unintended consequences of immediate withdrawal on the 
stability of the region.
  U.S. forces in Afghanistan have made great strides in the last 6 
months. In light of the recent death of Osama Bin Laden, the U.S. 
military must have the opportunity to consider the ramifications of his 
death on our current Afghanistan strategy. We have a short window in 
which the intelligence gained in his death can be leveraged 
successfully.
  How successful further action can or will be is unclear. Al-Qaeda may 
be able to regroup and revitalize. Regardless, immediate withdrawal 
will bring neither clarity nor stability to a region in which the 
United States has offered its highest currency, the blood of our young 
men and women in uniform.

[[Page E987]]



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