87 House Members Commend Early Combat Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Feb 17, 2012
Washington, D.C. . . . Eighty seven Members of Congress, including nine Republicans, sent a letter today to President Obama praising the administration’s decision to bring home all combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2013.
On February 1, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced that the United States will end its combat missions in Afghanistan by “mid- to the latter part of 2013.”
This step was pressed for in amendments offered last year in the Senate by Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and in the House by Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC).
This bi-partisan group of 87, at a time of few bi-partisan assemblages, wrote: “We write to express our support for the Administration’s announcement on February 1st that the United States will complete combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of next year.”
Afghanistan: The Pace of Withdrawals Accelerates; House Letter Supporting That Action
Feb 16, 2012
On February 1, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced that the United States will end its combat missions in Afghanistan by “mid- to the latter part of 2013.”
This announcement – whether intended by the Obama Administration at this time is not clear – marks a welcome and accelerated withdrawal timetable. Previously, combat operations were supposed to end in 2014.
The New York Times called the pronouncement “a major milestone toward ending a decade of war in Afghanistan.”
The sooner American military forces exit from Afghanistan – after spending so many lives and treasure – the better.
This step was pressed for in amendments offered last year in the Senate by Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and in the House by Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC).
Essay: The End of Interventionism
Aug 08, 2011
Written by John Isaacs, appears in ADA Today:
United States involvement in the Libyan war may turn out to be the straw that broke the political and philosophical back of the military interventionists.
Most of the country having long turned against George W. Bush’s war of choice in Iraq, President Obama has been continuing the process of withdrawal from that (at least tenuously) pacified country. Disaffection with the Iraq war hurt the Republicans at the polls in 2006 and 2008.
As for the Afghan war, many on the left and right were willing to reserve judgment on President Obama’s actions early in his administration because he had inherited a weak position from his predecessor. Besides, Afghanistan—in contrast to Iraq—was the “good” war, one directly related to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
But the effort to oust long-time Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi means the United States is engaged in three military conflicts at the same time, to say nothing of predator drone strikes in other countries. While liberals are split on the Libyan conflict, the expanding wars are widely perceived to be military interventionism run amuck.
2 more Senators speak out: Widespread Demand for Significant Afghan Troop Withdrawal
Jun 22, 2011
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): "I believe it is time for President Obama to begin a substantial and responsible reduction in our military presence in Afghanistan. I believe it is time for us to rebuild America, not Afghanistan. That is why I strongly agreed with Senators Merkley and Lee, and the words of 27 of my Republican and Democratic colleagues."
Congressional Record, June 21, 2011
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA): "It is time for the United States to lighten its footprint in the country. It is also a time to accelerate the shift in responsibility to Afghan forces and for a drawdown of a significant number of United States troops from Afghanistan."
Congressional Record, June 21, 2011June 21, 2011
Final vote on McGovern (D-MA)-Jones (R-NC) amendment on Afghanistan
May 30, 2011
Vote on McGovern (MA), Jones (NC), Loretta Sanchez (CA), Amash (MI), Lewis (GA), Paul (TX), Cicilline (RI), Welch VT) amendment requiring a plan and a timeframe for an accelerated transition of military operations from U.S. to Afghan authorities, and other provisions. Defeated 204-215 (26 Republicans voting aye, 8 Democrats voting no)
Democrats: 178 aye, 8 no
Republicans: 26 aye, 207 no
12 not voting
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll373.xml
---- YES 204 ---
Ackerman
Amash
Andrews
Baca
Baldwin
Bartlett
Bass (CA)
Bass (NH)
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Butterfield
Campbell
Capps
Capuano
House Acts on U.S. Military Engagement Abroad -- Cautiously
May 30, 2011
Last week, the House adopted amendments to the annual Defense Authorization Bill signaling rising discontent with the use of military force abroad – but also demonstrated the limits of its bravery.
These votes came as a number of Members of Congress denounced the Obama Administration for ignoring the War Powers Act enacted in 1973 over President Richard Nixon’s veto.
Most significantly, the House came close to a majority vote against the Afghanistan War for the first time when it narrowly rejected 204 – 215 an amendment by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) to require a timetable to bring American troops home from that country.
Over 90% of the Democrats, who had previously been split on the war, voted for the withdrawal, including the modestly hawkish House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Only eight Democrats dissented. Twenty six Republicans joined with the Democratic majority, a significant pickup in a party that has tended to support the wars.
Last year, a similar McGovern-Jones won only 162 votes at a time when Democrats dominated the House.
Key House Votes Today or Tomorrow on Bringing U.S. Troops Home from Afghanistan
May 25, 2011
The House of Representatives is expected today or tomorrow to hold the most important votes on bringing U.S. troops home from Afghanistan since the war began 10 years ago.
When President Obama sent 30,000 additional American troops to Afghanistan, he promised that the U.S. would begin withdrawal of those forces by July 2011 with all combat troops out by 2014.
The outcome of these House votes could influence the President’s decision in July on the first troop withdrawals and indicate rising congressional opposition to the large American troop presence in Afghanistan.
And with these votes, Congress has its best chance in a decade to bring the U.S. troops home.
HR 1735, the Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act
May 06, 2011
McGovern (D-MA)-Jones (R-NC) bill
Importance of this measure:
This is the first truly bi-partisan measure in the House of Representatives that go beyond the usual "anti-Afghan war suspects." It is important to break into the new Republican freshmen caucus and this letter does that.
Kudos to Representatives Jim McGovern and Walter Jones for their effort, which will help swell the political opposition to the war.
Purpose of the bill:
1) Require the President to transmit to Congress a plan with timeframe and completion date on the transition of U.S. military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan;
2) Require the President to report quarterly (i.e. every 90 days) on the status of that transition, and the human and financial costs of remaining in Afghanistan, including increased deficit and public debt; and
3) Included in those quarterly reports, the President must disclose to Congress the savings in 5-year, 10-year and 20-year time periods were the U.S. to accelerate redeployment and conclude the transition of all U.S. military and security operations to Afghanistan within 180 days (i.e. 6 months).