[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CORRESPONDENCE SUPPORTING THE AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN STUDY GROUP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 2011

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I submit correspondence regarding the 
Afghanistan/Pakistan Study Group and provide the following examples of 
support for this important initiative from David Abshire, president of 
the Center for the Study of the Presidency, and a moving letter from a 
constituent and mother whose children have served in the military in 
recent years.

                                       Center for the Study of the


                                      Presidency and Congress,

                                     Washington, DC, June 1, 2011.
     Hon. Frank Wolf,
     House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Frank: To say that the May 2, 2011 targeted 
     elimination of Osama bin Laden by a team of U.S. Navy SEALs 
     was welcome news would be the understatement of the 21st 
     century. The death of a terrorist icon that had directed the 
     murder of thousands of American, European, and Muslim 
     civilians has also caused almost immediate speculation as to 
     what his demise will mean for the international mission in 
     Afghanistan.
       Within hours of President Obama's announcement of bin 
     Laden's death, pundits and politicians from both the Right 
     and Left are calling for a speedier withdrawal in the wake of 
     the al-Qaeda leader's demise. However, many are concerned 
     that such a move would risk reversing the gains that have 
     been made by our nearly ten-year military effort and could 
     cause Afghanistan to once again remerge as a destabilizing 
     pariah that violates human rights and threatens international 
     security.
       As the country becomes increasingly divided over the issue 
     of our involvement in Afghanistan, many questions have been 
     raised regarding our relationship with Pakistan. Despite 
     spending billions in aid and security assistance, America's 
     approval rating in Pakistan is a mere 17%. Furthermore the 
     discovery of Osama bin Laden in a compound located less than 
     a mile from the Pakistan Military Academy has dramatically 
     amplified concerns that elements of the Pakistani Inter-
     Services Intelligence service may be maintaining links with 
     al-Qaeda and other violent extremist organizations. While 
     many understand that cutting off or reducing aid to Pakistan 
     would be risky, the American public is unlikely to tolerate 
     continued perceived double-dealing on the part of the 
     Pakistani security services. New creative and independent 
     thinking is needed to overcome the current deadlock.
       As the country struggles to find the appropriate way 
     forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I am heartened by your 
     efforts to establish a bipartisan and independent 
     Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group that will take a 
     comprehensive look at America's current and future role in 
     the region.
       I had the privilege of helping organize the Iraq Study 
     Group (ISO), which the proposed Af-Pak Study Group would be 
     modeled after, and feel that a similar such effort would be 
     of great help today.
       Such a group can provide an effective unifying rallying 
     point that will enable the country to come together in 
     support of a comprehensive strategy that will guard our 
     interests in the region and foster a more stable and secure 
     world.
       With warm regards,
           Sincerely yours,
                                                    David Abshire.
                                  ____
                                  
       Dear Congressman Wolf: I have read your proposal for the 
     formation of an Afghanistan/Pakistan Study Group with deep 
     personal interest and approbation. I applaud its respectful, 
     well-reasoned, bipartisan approach to rethinking the war in 
     Afghanistan. The following are my personal thoughts regarding 
     this war. Please accept them as the insights of an average 
     American mother.
       It has been troubling to me how distant this war is for so 
     many Americans. Many are only vaguely aware of the events 
     taking place, other than perhaps the recent increase in the 
     number of casualties. Even gathering information of what is 
     daily happening in Afghanistan hasn't been easy. I comb the 
     internet daily searching many different online news sources 
     in an attempt to be informed. Our country is at war and yet 
     so often the top news items contain nothing regarding it. 
     Often it is the local papers in towns with soldiers, sailors 
     and marines serving in Afghanistan that contain the most 
     news. Other times it is the news stations with an embedded 
     reporter who will have a flurry of articles while the 
     reporter is there but then nothing once they return.
       The War on Terror is not just impersonal news but it is a 
     war that strikes very close to home. My father has a dear 
     friend whose son-in-law died in the Twin Towers. I have a 
     friend who lost a son in Iraq during the battle for Fallujah. 
     A student of mine lost her fiancee in the war. My children 
     and son-in-law have served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and 
     have buddies injured or killed in action.
       One of my daughters is currently serving in Afghanistan in 
     a Combat Support Hospital. She arrived in time to experience 
     first hand the peak number of casualties in June and July. In 
     a recent news interview her Commanding Officer said they are 
     seeing an almost constant stream of casualties; something 
     that none of them were prepared for, but will remember the 
     horrors of the rest of their lives.
       It has sometimes appeared that the efforts in Afghanistan 
     have trudged along, with success measured in part by the 
     areas in which we have gained some measure of control versus 
     the price paid in human lives both civilian and military. The 
     casualties suffered aren't just numbers to me; each name, 
     each face, represents a family who is paying the ultimate 
     price, the loss of a son or daughter, brother or sister, 
     father or mother; a family that will never be the same. 
     Therefore, I wholeheartedly support the formation of an 
     Afghanistan/Pakistan Study Group in the hope that it will 
     help to turn the tide of this war and lessen the number of 
     casualties as well.
       I, too, have a deep respect and confidence in Gen. Petraus 
     and would not want my comments to be construed as being 
     critical of the leadership of our military. I have no formal 
     training in political science or history so please accept 
     these comments as simply the perspective of an American 
     mother with children glad to serve our country.
       God bless you and give you wisdom as you serve in the 
     leadership of our country.
           Sincerely,------
       PS It meant so much to see my sons receive a standing 
     ovation when introduced during last weeks luncheon. It is 
     these very Lance Corporals, Corporals and Sergeants who are 
     almost daily listed among the casualties. My son, ------, 
     remarked that listening to your speech ``restored his faith 
     in the republic''. Thank you again for recognizing their 
     service.

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