[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TIME TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN

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                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, 12 years ago on September 11, 
2001, al Qaeda terrorists trained and supported by Osama bin Laden from 
Afghanistan attacked and murdered nearly 3,000 Americans.
  Shortly after that horrible day, American armed forces struck back in 
Afghanistan. Our troops have performed brilliantly and have 
significantly damaged al Qaeda terrorists' operations and brought the 
ultimate justice to bin Laden. At the same time our troops have shed 
their blood to provide the Afghan people with the opportunity to break 
from the tyranny of the Taliban and achieve freedom and liberty.
  In recent months, our government has offered the additional 
opportunity provided by a bi-lateral security agreement which would 
keep American forces in that country beyond 2014. To date, Afghan 
President Karzai has refused to sign that agreement.
  I believe that agreement should be withdrawn and President Obama 
should bring our forces home by the end of next year. Our troops have 
performed brilliantly. And now it is time for the Afghan people to step 
up and secure their own nation. We have offered freedom and democracy 
to Afghans and they must either choose to take it or not. And it is 
time for our troops to come home.

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