[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE HUMAN COST OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2012

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep sadness and regret: we 
have reached 2,000 American troop deaths in the War in Afghanistan--a 
war we needlessly continue to fight. My sincerest condolences go out to 
the families, friends, and communities who have lost loved ones to a 
war I have ardently opposed for the past 11 years.
  Americans are not alone in our loss. As of summer 2011, conservative 
estimates indicate that anywhere between 30,000 and 45,000 Afghan 
civilians have lost their lives to this war. I will never understand 
why we continually squander lives and money to achieve tactical or 
strategic military goals. The cost is simply too great; the ends do not 
justify the means.
  Seventy percent of Americans want a complete and early withdrawal of 
troops from Afghanistan, according to a recent Rasmussen poll. Yet we 
do not listen, so more lives are lost in this nonsensical war. I hope 
that someday soon we will finally bring home our troops and help 
restore peace to the nation of Afghanistan.

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