Our mission continues to grow and grow, with no clear sense of where we are ultimately going. It has been eight long years. We have lost too many brave men and women. And we have spent billions and billions of dollars.
The government of Afghanistan-led by President Hamid Karzai- is incompetent and corrupt. The Afghan President has formed alliances with war lords and drug lords who have no interest in a better Afghanistan. His military is not reliable and the police are a mess. And, by all accounts, forces close to Mr. Karzai stuffed ballot boxes in the most recent elections.
If this fraud had occurred in virtually any other country in the world, the condemnations from Congress and the Administration would be loud and forceful.
After all the sacrifices our troops have made, after all the financial and development assistance, after all the training and military aid – is this the best we can expect? Don’t we deserve better? Don’t the Afghan people deserve better?
At the very minimum, we must insist that any aid be contingent on a responsible Afghan government. Without that, then all our investments and good intentions can achieve very little that is sustainable.
The United States has an incredible team assembled in Afghanistan. I had the pleasure of meeting many of them during a brief recent visit to the country. Both the military and State Department personnel are impressive. I only wish they were in place eight years ago. But, even a brilliant team can’t make up for the inadequacies of the current Afghan government.
Our troops are exceptional. I had the privilege of eating dinner with many of them from Massachusetts. I am in awe of their courage, commitment and patriotism.
We owe them a policy that is worthy of their sacrifice.
Everyone – from the President on down – agrees that a political solution is the only path for a successful, stable Afghanistan.
During consideration of the Department of Defense Authorization bill a few months ago, I – along with my colleague from North Carolina, Walter Jones – offered an amendment that would have simply required the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress by the end of the year what our exit strategy for Afghanistan was. We are not asking for a date certain, we are not advocating an immediate withdrawal, but we wanted an answer to this fundamental question-at what point has our military contribution to the political solution in Afghanistan come to an end so we can bring our troops home?
I don’t believe that the United States should enter into war without a clearly defined mission. And that means a mission with a beginning, a middle, a transition period and an end. Without that definition and clarity, we will continue to drift from year to year-from Administration to Administration. We need an exit strategy for Afghanistan.
I believe that sending thousands of more American troops into Afghanistan – as some in the Administration appear to be urging-is a mistake. An escalation of US military forces would further create the impression of an occupation and, in turn, provide a powerful rallying point for those we are trying to defeat.
In a recent New York Times column, Nicholas Kristoff cites a statement by former US intelligence officials warning that “the more troops we put in, the greater the opposition.”
I am not suggesting we walk away from Afghanistan. We, along with the international community, should help with development aid, investments in education and school feeding, training of their police and military, and help with strengthening their civilian institutions.
I also understand the threat from Al Qaeda. I still strongly believe that we should hold those responsible for the September 11th attacks accountable – and we should be committed to defeating them. I voted for the authorization to use military force after the terrorist attacks.
But Al Qaeda is more of a problem in Pakistan than in Afghanistan. And for those who justify our expanded military presence in Afghanistan as a way to prevent Al Qaeda from ever coming back and establishing a safe haven, I would ask: are we going to send troops to Somalia or Sudan or other countries that have provided safe havens for Al Qaeda in the past?
There are no easy answers in Afghanistan. It is a complicated place – from its people to its geography.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I do feel deeply that an escalation of American military forces there would not solve the many problems and challenges of that country. I fear it would only further complicate matters – at a very high cost to our troops and our country.
It’s time for a U.S. exit strategy in Afghanistan
Please share widely!
jconway says
Those of us skeptical of the President’s surge in Afghanistan and our country’s mission there owe a debt of gratitude to Jim McGovern for taking the lead on this one and challenging a popular President from his own party to make sure that the right strategy for America is pursued and pursued in a fashion that is attainable with the fewest number of casualties possible.
<
p>Our mission, in my view, is to eradicate Al Qaeda, kill or capture Osama bin Laden (preferably capture), and ensure that the government of Afghanistan remains stable enough so that it will not be able to harbor terrorists again. This was the mission that President Bush first articulated in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 eight years ago. Now is not the time to alter or change that strategy to one of costly nation building and foolhardy democracy building.
<
p>Afghanistan is called the graveyard of empires for a reason. The immediate short and long term national security interests of the United States will not be advanced by having a democratic Afghanistan. In fact pursuing that goal, as was pursued in Iraq, could distract from the immediate and long term national security interests of the United States. The only question Congressmen McGovern and other legislators should ask when looking over another proposed military build-up, escalation of troops and arms, procurements, etc. is will this protect the American people? If it does not then it is not worth it. I applaud this Congressmen for having the courage to ask the questions and I hope our national security establishment will soon provide him and the American people with the answers.
kbusch says
It seems crystal clear to me that the Karzai government is no where near “stable enough” to remain in power for very long. They survive by the grace of warlords. Correction: corrupt and ruthless warlords. That’s not a formula for popularity.
<
p>In my opinion, any plan for withdrawal from Afghanistan should take into account what will happen after its current government falls.
<
p>Otherwise, we’ll be a long time waiting for the Karzai government to become stable enough.
smalltownguy says
Jim McGovern does indeed make a serious contribution to a new evolving policy on Afganistan. The key piint in his address seems to be:
<
p>
<
p>But there is a more “fundamental” question, I think, It is, “What vital interests of the United States compel our continued military involvement in this country?” That’s the debate we should be having and McGovern’s remarks skirt this issue, but don’t directly confront it. More and more, we look like the mythic French army, always prepared to win the previous war.
howland-lew-natick says
The people that control the wars are not fools. They understand that a tribal society will not be a “democracy” by the United States’ actions. The culture just isn’t there. We aren’t in Afghanistan to promote a democracy. We didn’t go into Afghanistan to destroy the Taliban. They were only the hosts of the “Al Qaeda” group that supposedly led the attacks of 9/11. That outfit, if it exists at all, is pretty much out of Afghanistan and maybe into Pakistan. So, what’s the purpose of these wars?
<
p>Ike was right. He warned us to beware of the military/industrial complex. Now, it’s too late. Each politician is deeply beholding to the military industry. If we have a great weapons production base, we have to lower inventories every now and again. The inventories can be shipped to new locations as with the expansion of NATO now that its enemy, The Warsaw Pact, is long gone. Inventories can also be used, as is seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza (by proxy) and now more here in the US.
<
p>The vital interests of the defense industry and the military are what the United States through our elected representatives support. Are we not fools?
kate says
Thank you Congressman. I consider it to be a privilege to be your constituent.
<
p>Readers, If you want to support the Congressman’s work and chat personally with him, consider joining him for breakfast on Sunday,
<
p>
Please join Congressman Jim McGovern for his Annual Worcester Breakfast. Suggested Contribution $25. Please RSVP to rsvp@jimmcgovern.com .
<
p>I just renamed my page to “Activists and BMGers for Jim McGovern . The Congressman has been extraordinarily generous in supporting progressive Democrats for Congress across the country. Please donate to let him know how much we appreciate everything he does. If you can donate $50 or $25 it would be much appreciated. Please consider donating, whether or not you are able to join us for breakfast.
<
p>BlueMassGroup has a history of good events at O’Connors.
<
p>Kate
billxi says
Why does he need more money?
christopher says
billxi says
After Bad.
joemoakleydem says
McGovern is bold, thoughtful, and unabashedly progressive. I wish he’d jump into this Senate contest. He’d be a most worthy successor to Ted Kennedy.
billxi says
He represented your district for 20 years. I think he is still representing your district more than his.
neilsagan says
“I wish he’d jump into this Senate contest. He’d be a most worthy successor to Ted Kennedy.”
bostonshepherd says
Or was that just campaign BS?
neilsagan says
no that was the other one. try to keep your wars straight.
johnd says
Remarks of Senator Obama: The War We Need to Win
hlpeary says
McGovern is the best Massachusetts’ Congressional delegation has to offer…bar none. Restores your faith in the system…and given the posturing and PR driven nonsense that is substituting for policymaking and elections today, that says a lot.
<
p>Thanks, Jim McGovern…wish you were my congressman.