[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14824]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                AFGHANISTAN STILL NEEDS AN EXIT STRATEGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Garamendi) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
  On October 7, 2001, the United States officially began Operation 
Enduring Freedom, and the war in Afghanistan was underway. The last 
decade of wars has cost thousands of U.S. lives and hundreds of 
billions of taxpayer dollars.
  As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and as a 
representative of thousands of servicemembers, military families, and 
veterans, I'm entrusted with weighing the decision on what the profound 
effect on our Nation's security this war has brought and on the men and 
women that risk their lives every day to ensure that security. As we 
mark the 10th anniversary of the longest war in America's history, we 
believe it's time for Congress to ask some very serious questions about 
our military engagement in Afghanistan.
  Whom are we fighting in Afghanistan? We entered this war because of 
the threat posed by the international terrorist organization al Qaeda. 
While al Qaeda expands its operations around the globe, our military is 
tied up in a ground war against the Taliban, an Afghan rebel group with 
domestic ambitions. Senior intelligence officials have estimated fewer 
than 100 al Qaeda members remain in Afghanistan, yet we plan to have 
68,000 U.S. troops there in that country through the next year. If we 
are to defeat terrorism, we must stick to our original strategic 
mission, maintaining a laser-like focus on al Qaeda and capitalizing on 
our technological and intelligence advantages to cut off their 
financing, intercept their operations, and take out their leaders. The 
successful operation against Osama bin Laden epitomizes this targeted 
approach.
  Where's our money going? Afghanistan is widely considered to be one 
of the most corrupt countries in the world, behind only Somalia, and 
news reports of new corruption emerge every day. Billions of U.S. 
dollars are siphoned off by crooked officials and contractors, carried 
out of the Kabul airport in bags of cash, and even funneled to warlords 
and the very Taliban that we often oppose. To date, the U.S. has spent 
nearly half a trillion dollars in Afghanistan, and that pricetag 
increases by $10 billion every month that we stay there. Meanwhile, we 
are forced to cut critical services at home in the face of our rising 
deficit and financial instability. We continue to hemorrhage finite 
U.S. resources in Afghanistan, and it makes us less, not more safe.
  When will this war end? While the current timeline commits 68,000 
troops through 2013, there are reports, backed up by some facts, that 
in the ongoing talks with the Afghan government about the future of the 
U.S.-Afghanistan relationship, the U.S. is considering having 35,000 
U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2025 at an expected cost of over $50 
billion a year.
  The human cost of this war is immeasurable. The dedication and the 
commitment of American men and women in uniform is absolute. Our troops 
in Afghanistan execute their orders that put them at risk because they 
trust the mission in which they are deployed. That is absolutely 
essential to our Nation's security. This steadfast loyalty is our 
Nation's most sacred resource, and thus, it is our most solemn 
responsibility to ensure that it is never squandered.
  There is no U.S. military solution in Afghanistan. A political 
reconciliation is essential. Afghanistan's future depends upon Afghans, 
not American soldiers. By ending this war, America can focus on 
rebuilding the foundations of America's strength and security by paying 
down our Federal deficit, growing our economy, and putting Americans 
back to work.

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