Barbara Lee Calls for Change of Course in Afghanistan One Year after Troop Surge Announcement
For Immediate Release
December 1, 2010
Contact: Nicole Y. Williams
(202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) released the following statement regarding the one year anniversary of President Obama’s December 1, 2009 decision to send an additional 30,000 troops to war in Afghanistan.
“One year ago, President Obama announced to the nation his plans to further entrench the United States into the military quagmire in Afghanistan by sending an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to war.
“Since that day, more that 475 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives to this violent conflict - now America’s longest war in history.
“There is no end in sight in to the war in Afghanistan and no military solution.
“The President’s recent decision to extend the timeframe for the transfer of security responsibility to Afghan forces to at least 2014 has put us on the path to another decade of costly and counterproductive military occupation in Afghanistan.
“Enough is enough. This war is not in the national interest of the United States, nor is it supported by the majority of the American people.
“Recent reports indicate four out of five Americans oppose the decision to delay the withdrawal of combat troops to 2014. A majority of Americans believe things are going poorly in Afghanistan and have concerns the costs of the war will hamper our ability to address domestic priorities.
“As the Obama Administration conducts its scheduled December review of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, I urge the President to take this opportunity to heed the growing number of calls from across the political spectrum to end the war in Afghanistan.
“It is time to bring our resources and our brave men and women in uniform home. It is time to finally end this war.”
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