[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H6303-H6304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AFGHANISTAN IS THE GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) for 5 minutes.
Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, on July 18, I wrote to President Trump about
my concern about the fact that he and Secretary of Defense Mattis are
discussing how many more American troops must be sent to Afghanistan.
Mr. Speaker, you being a marine, you know that I represent Marine Corps
Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. We have
been there 16 years. Nothing has changed. In fact, it has gotten worse.
I would like to read just a few sentences from my letter. Again, this
was delivered to the White House on July 18. I am going to read just
sentences very quickly.
``Disappointed because after 16 years in Afghanistan, Congress
deserves another vote on this conflict. Disappointed because almost $1
trillion of taxpayers' money has been spent with no direct goal or
strategy. And most importantly, I am disappointed because we continue
to lose American lives.
``Sir, I am writing today because you seem to have had a change of
heart on this issue.''
I gave four examples of positions he has taken and tweets that he has
sent out. I am just going to read two of them, Mr. Speaker.
``In August of 2011, you agreed with Ron Paul and said the U.S. was
`wasting lives and money in Iraq and Afghanistan.' ''
Another tweet: ``The next year, you said on Twitter, `Do not allow
our very stupid leaders to sign a deal that keeps us in Afghanistan
through 2024--with all costs by USA . . . ' ''
And the last I would like to read: ``You also tweeted that year,
`Let's get out of Afghanistan. Our troops are being killed by the
Afghanis we train and we waste billions there. Nonsense! Rebuild the
USA.' ''
I further stated: ``Mr. President, I agree with those remarks, and so
does the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, my friend and unofficial
adviser, General Chuck Krulak. As he said in a recent email to me, `No
one has ever conquered Afghanistan . . . and many have tried. We will
join the list of nations that have tried and failed.' ''
I do not understand why this Congress and the leadership of this
House will not let us have another debate. I put a bill in with John
Garamendi, H.R. 1666, for the only reason that, after 16 years, we have
not debated the future of Afghanistan.
A report was out last night that the Russians are sending
sophisticated weapons to the Taliban in Afghanistan, who will be
fighting and killing Americans. I continue to call on the House
leadership to please let us meet our constitutional responsibility and
debate.
I have said, with H.R. 1666, that John Garamendi and I have put in,
join us in forcing a debate on the House and then vote against us, but
give us a debate.
I further said to the President: ``Once you come to a consensus''--
and this is raising the troop levels--``I suggest you publicly go
before the American people and U.S. military to explain the benchmarks
you choose for Afghanistan.''
Why are we going to send more Americans to fight and die in
Afghanistan?
And also give the American people an idea of what we are trying to
achieve. For 16 years, there are very few of the marines in my district
who have been there three, four, and five times, and I will say to
them, ``What have we accomplished?'' and they will say back to me,
``Very little. Very little.'' Yet we sit here in Congress and we fund
billions of dollars. We will have a vote in 2 days to spend billions of
dollars on Afghanistan, and there is very little accountability. This
is not what this House needs to be doing, especially when we are
sending our young men and women to give their life for this country.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record this letter to President Trump
and ask President Trump to please stay strong in his beliefs and that
it is a waste of money, life, and time to be in Afghanistan.
Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, July 18, 2017.
President Donald J. Trump,
The White House,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. President: Many of us in the U.S. House of
Representatives believe we have been denied our sacred duty
to debate and declare war. You could say that I am
disappointed by this. Disappointed because after 16 years in
Afghanistan, Congress deserves another vote on this conflict.
Disappointed because almost $1 trillion of taxpayers' money
has been spent with no direct goal or strategy. And most
importantly, I am disappointed because we continue to lose
American lives.
Sir, I am writing today because you seem to have had a
change of heart on this issue:
1. In August of 2011, you agreed with Ron Paul and said the
U.S. was ``wasting lives and money in Iraq and Afghanistan.''
2. In 2012, you referred to Afghanistan as a ``complete
waste,'' and declared it was ``time to come home.''
3. The next year, you said on Twitter, ``Do not allow our
very stupid leaders to sign a deal that keeps us in
Afghanistan through 2024--with all costs by U.S.A. . . .''
4. You also tweeted that year, ``Let's get out of
Afghanistan. Our troops are being killed by the Afghanis we
train and we waste billions there. Nonsense! Rebuild the
USA.''
[[Page H6304]]
Mr. President, I agree with those remarks, and so does the
31st Commandant of Marines Corps, my friend,. and unofficial
advisor, General Chuck Krulak. As he said in a recent email
to me, ``NO ONE has ever conquered Afghanistan . . . and many
have tried. We will join the list of Nations that have tried
and failed.''
Mr. President, that is why I am asking you to review this
thinking before approving any troop level increases from
General Mattis. I believe you would see great benefit and
wisdom in asking Congress to debate and vote on troop level
increases as well. You would then have the American people
and their elected officials share a decision to send more of
our sons and daughters into harm's way. Once you come to a
consensus, I suggest you publicly go before the American
people and U.S. military to explain the benchmarks you choose
for Afghanistan. Previous administrations have not been able
to clarify those endpoints, which is unfair to taxpayers and
our troops. In the end, we all share this responsibility, and
it is time that not only Congress but also the American
people have a say. Sixteen years is enough!
Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires! We do not want a
tombstone to read ``United States of America.''
Respectfully,
Walter B. Jones,
Member of Congress.
Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I close by showing the face of a little girl
who is standing there with her mother and wondering why her daddy is in
a flag-draped coffin, and I could not explain to her. He died in
Afghanistan. I don't know why he is dead in a flag-draped coffin.
God bless our men and women in uniform, and God bless America.
____________________