[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1165]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              AFGHANISTAN

  The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Jones) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday when I turned 70 years of 
age, I read in the North Carolina paper, known as the News and 
Observer, the article that I would like to quote:

       More than 100 family members, friends and uniformed 
     servicemembers marched slowly and quietly Friday down a hill 
     at Arlington National Cemetery following Army Sergeant Aaron 
     X. Wittman's coffin, draped with an American flag and carried 
     on a horse-drawn caisson.

  Mr. Speaker, there are probably not many Members of Congress or 
Americans who know that Sergeant Wittman became the first American to 
lose his life in Afghanistan in 2013.
  I do not know how many more Americans will have to die between now 
and the end of 2014. One American life is already one too many. We have 
done enough in Afghanistan. It will never change, as history has proven 
time and time again.
  Obviously, there is nothing more important than an American life. But 
there is a second part of this sad situation, and that is the $28 
million a day we are spending to rebuild Afghanistan. We could use that 
$28 million a day to fix our own roads and our own schools right here 
in America.
  Yesterday on C-SPAN, I heard the Special Inspector General for Afghan 
Reconstruction, John Sopko, speak about how much money we are spending 
in Afghanistan and the fact that it is impossible to give the American 
taxpayers an account of where the money is going. I think Mr. Sopko and 
his team are doing the best they can; but taxpayers are still being 
shortchanged, especially with the looming issue of sequestration and a 
pending continuing resolution.
  I hope that my colleagues in the House can join in the effort to 
bring our troops home by the end of 2013 and to put an end to the 
wasteful spending in Afghanistan. Most importantly, above all else, put 
an end to the loss of American lives. I will quote from my friend, 
former commandant of the United States Marine Corps:

       What do you say to the mother, father, wife of the last 
     soldier or marine killed in Afghanistan?

  My question is, Was it worth it? My answer is, No, not one life is 
worth it to be lost in Afghanistan. It is time to bring our troops 
home.
  Mr. Speaker, this poster beside me shows a casket on top of a caisson 
getting ready to walk to the grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
  May God continue to bless our troops, our men and women in uniform. 
May God continue to bless America. And please, God, touch the hearts of 
those in the House and let's bring our troops home in 2013.

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