[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 926-927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE ``RIDE PAST THE WRECKAGE'' IN AFGHANISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, President Obama gave a stirring speech last 
night, most of which I agreed with, especially the calls for defense 
cuts; the investments in innovation, education, and infrastructure; and 
the elimination of oil company subsidies.
  But given the sacrifice endured by the American people, I thought 
Afghanistan got short shrift--a mere two paragraphs.
  The American Prospect magazine described the State of the Union as a 
``ride past the wreckage.'' I think that was because it applies to the 
State of the Union's treatment of Afghanistan.
  The fact is that the training of Afghan security forces has been slow 
and ineffective. The inspector general for

[[Page 927]]

Afghanistan reconstruction said as much this very week. The Taliban 
remains a vital force in many pockets of Afghanistan, and the head of 
the Afghan NGO safety office reports a very precarious security 
situation.
  The President was correct when he said that Afghanistan will need to 
provide better governance, but it's hard to see that happening with 
President Karzai regularly lashing out at us and, at one point, saying 
he would choose the Taliban over the United States and the 
international community.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people are tired of being talked down to 
about this war, tired of being told everything is fine and under 
control, tired of being urged to stay the course, tired of talk about 
progress that seems to be little more than an illusion.
  The President reiterated last night that we will begin to bring our 
troops home in July, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest we're 
ramping up this war instead of winding it down.
  Earlier this month, for example, 1,400 additional marine combat 
forces were deployed, with the possibility of additional mini-surges 
during the spring, that would push our troop levels in Afghanistan to 
the 100,000 mark.
  We're also using heavily armored tanks for the first time, and there 
are reports that we're considering expanding the war across the border 
in an unprecedented way, with risky and dangerous special operations 
ground raids into Pakistan.
  Does this sound like a war that's drawing to a close?
  Then in a trip to Afghanistan a few weeks ago, the Vice President 
suggested to his hosts that the occupation could extend beyond 2014. 
``We're not leaving if you don't want us to leave,'' he said. He should 
check out recent polling that indicates the Afghan people's deep 
skepticism, if not downright hostility, regarding the United States' 
military presence in their country.
  Besides, what about what the American people believe? When are we 
going to respect their point of view? They're the ones paying for this 
war in blood and treasure, and clear majorities believe that this war 
has outlived its usefulness and that it's not worth fighting.
  It is time, Mr. Speaker, to listen to the American people. There is 
only one sensible and humane solution: That is to bring our troops home 
and bring them home now.

                          ____________________