[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              AFGHANISTAN

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to stress the importance today of our 
partnership with the people of Afghanistan.
  The 9/11 attacks were planned in Afghanistan, and a number of those 
who planned it are still at large, including Osama bin Laden. President 
Hamid Karzai's leadership is vital, as is his continuing work to bring 
stability and security to Afghanistan; he is an important ally in the 
global war on terrorism. Unfortunately, reports suggest that progress 
in Afghanistan continues to be undermined by Taliban and terrorist 
forces operating out of Pakistan.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow Afghanistan to become a failed state 
again; therefore, we must ensure that terrorist operations in 
Afghanistan stop and terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens across the 
border in Pakistan are eliminated. And we need more cooperation from 
Pakistan. Let's not neglect the situation in Afghanistan. We do so at 
our peril.

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