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On the Issues: Iraq and Afghanistan

Like all Americans, I am deeply troubled by the loss of human life as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe that the former Administration misled Congress about the threat of weapons of mass destruction posed by Saddam Hussein, and I have supported a responsible withdrawal of our troops from Iraq as soon as possible. I commend President Barack Obama for refocusing our efforts in Iraq on improving security and helping Iraqis take responsibility for the situation themselves.

I also strongly support the President for recognizing that the largest threat to our national security remains Al Qaeda, which has gained strongholds in Afghanistan and in some regions of Pakistan. The situation in Afghanistan is extremely volatile, with a resurgent Taliban and al Qaeda supported insurgency. We must defeat Al Qaeda, create security in Afghanistan, and provide this country with the economic resources needed to create stability and support a democratic government.

Finally, the Americans who risked their lives as members of our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve the highest level of support from Congress and from all Americans. Click here to read about my efforts to provide veterans with health care, college funding, and other services that they deserve in return for their sacrifices.

Iraq

Since the outset of the war, I have strongly supported the brave men and women in our military who have made the ultimate sacrifice and risked their lives in Iraq.  It was clear in 2004, following the White House-appointed Silberman-Robb Commission, that the Bush Administration's pre-war intelligence claims regarding Iraqi WMD were dead wrong.  This was also confirmed by the so-called "Downing Street Memo," which suggested former President Bush went to war in Iraq under false pretenses and without a plan for rebuilding Iraq.  Since this revelation, I have worked diligently with my colleagues to secure a responsible redeployment of American troops from Iraq.

On March 14, 2008, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 319 to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  This resolution would have recognized March 18, 2008 as the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war and urged President Bush to begin an immediate and safe redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq.  It also urged the President not to enter into any long-term United States-Iraq strategic agreement without the approval of Congress and to adequately provide health care assistance to U.S. troops returning from both Iraq and Afghanistan.  The bill was not considered on the floor.

As a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I believe Congress must provide leadership in addressing the quagmire in Iraq.  To this end, in the previous 110th Congress I cosponsored House Joint Resolution 18, introduced by Congressman John Murtha to re-deploy American forces from Iraq at the earliest practical time, and to pursue peace and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.  While this bill also did not pass in the previous Congress, I am confident in President Obama's vision for a phased withdrawal of troops in Iraq.  I stand with him in his effort to responsibly redeploy our troops from Iraq, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that our military efforts are conducted in ways that respect the lives of our troops while making our country and the world safer.

Afghanistan

The U.S. has made a long-term commitment to help Afghanistan rebuild itself after years of war.  The United States and its international partners remain committed to helping Afghans realize their vision for a country that is stable, democratic, and economically successful, and to an Afghan government committed to the protection of women's rights, human rights, and religious tolerance.  I support a review of U.S. policy in Afghanistan, so we have a comprehensive strategy and the necessary resources to meet clear and achievable objectives in Afghanistan and the region.

As America struggles to rebuild Iraq, it is essential that we also provide humanitarian, reconstruction and related assistance for Afghanistan.  Despite assurances from the previous Administration that its commitment to the Afghani people would not waver, it is clear that it in fact lessened as U.S.-led efforts in Iraq have increased.  This trend has been extremely disconcerting given the humanitarian crisis and destitute living conditions in Afghanistan, especially those facing women and children, and I support President Obama’s effort to realign our military efforts from Iraq to Afghanistan.

I agree with the President that the United States has a vital national security interest in addressing the current and potential security threats posed by extremists currently seeking refuge in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  In Pakistan, al Qaeda and other groups of jihadist terrorists are planning new terror attacks, targeting the U.S. homeland and many of our allies.  In addition, the Taliban is reorganizing in the ungovernable border regions, seeking to reestablish their old sanctuaries in Afghanistan.  Therefore, the goals of U.S. policy in this region must be to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban; to develop and nurture an integrated civilian-military counterinsurgency strategy; to expand the Afghan National Security Forces; and to engage the Afghan government and bolstering its legitimacy.  In addition, we must assist efforts to enhance civilian control and stable constitutional government in Pakistan and encourage a vibrant economy that provides opportunity for the people of Pakistan.  We must involve the international community to actively assist in addressing these objectives for Afghanistan and Pakistan, with an important leadership role for the UN.

In 2002, I voted for the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act, which authorized urgent humanitarian needs, repatriation and resettlement of internally displaced refugees, counter-narcotics efforts, re-establishment of food security, rehabilitation of the agriculture sector, improvement in health conditions and reconstruction of basic infrastructure, re-establishment of Afghanistan as a viable nation-state through support for the development and expansion of democratic and market-based institutions; and support for the establishment of a market economy, private financial institutions, a telecommunications infrastructure, and trade and commercial links.  This legislation also contained language allocating funds for the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Independent Human Rights Commission, an important step in securing human rights and freedom for women in Afghanistan.  I strongly supported this initiative, and I am especially pleased that the it became Public Law No.107-327 on December 4, 2002.

Close to $900 billion has been spent on Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, with an additional $130 billion requested for FY2010.  The cost is immense, in dollars and human life.  I stand with the President in his efforts to end these wars responsibly, bringing home our brave men and women and refocusing these dollars for much needed investments here at home.