Growing Chaos and Distrust between NATO and Afghan Allies Highlights Strategic Failure of Continued Military Occupation
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the widening uproar across Afghanistan:
“The current crisis in Afghanistan only further supports the fact that there is no military solution in Afghanistan. Instead of stabilizing the country, our military presence is igniting conflict. Those who continue to advocate for an open-ended and long term military presence in Afghanistan are not paying attention to the reality on the ground.
“We need to get real about the situation in Afghanistan. We have seen Members of the Afghan Parliament cast the U.S. as invaders and call for jihad against Americans. We know that Afghan police, who are given salaries, uniforms, and weapons by the U.S. government, openly contemplate killing NATO troops. The military occupation of Afghanistan is creating more enemies and fails to advance the prospects for peace in the region. We need to bring all out troops home safely and swiftly, ban permanent military bases in Afghanistan, and save our limited resources for a diplomatic surge so that a lasting political solution can be achieved.”
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