“We must keep our promises and bring this war to a close.”
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement following the White House’s announcement that 8,400 U.S. troops would remain in Afghanistan beyond the end of the year:
“Today’s announcement is a step in the wrong direction and it signals that our nation’s longest war is far from over.
Further military engagement in Afghanistan continues to put our brave servicemen and women in harm’s way and does not enhance our national security.
For nearly 15 years, our brave servicemen and women have gone above and beyond the call of duty, under nearly impossible circumstances. It’s well past time to bring them home.
This war has already cost our nation too much, in blood and in treasure. We have lost 2,382 brave American servicemembers, and more than 20,000 have been wounded.
This war's $741 billion price tag undermines our ability to make critical investments in our national security and domestic priorities. This price tag increases by $4 million every hour.
In 2001, I opposed the authorization for this war because it allowed any President to wage endless war without the Congressional oversight mandated by the Constitution. I will continue to pursue every legislative opportunity to re-establish Congress’s constitutionally-required oversight of war.
We must keep our promises and bring this war to a close.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Democrat Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity.