[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 28964]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CONDITIONAL COMMITMENT

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, a war cannot be won from a podium, 
but it can be lost. Laying out our entire military strategy in 
Afghanistan for our enemies is not only unwise, but poses a significant 
threat to national security. Our enemies have proven to be patient and 
steadfast in their determination to wage war on democracy and freedom. 
The President will send more troops, but has shown his entire hand to 
the world.
  Last night's premature announcement by the President of an arbitrary 
end date for withdrawal contradicts our commitment to winning the war 
on terror--no matter how long it takes. It reaffirms our enemy's belief 
that America will lose its will to win. It seems our policy in fighting 
the war in Afghanistan is the surge-and-retreat plan. Success should be 
the mission, not ``get out of Dodge'' on a certain date.
  Nowhere in history has a nation told its enemy that commitment would 
be for a set period of time and then the struggle would be abandoned. 
The President has said he wants to avoid another Vietnam, yet he has 
reintroduced the Vietnam syndrome of conditional commitment to 
America's cause.
  And that's just the way it is.

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