Brian Jones: “National syndicated columnist Eugene Robinson recently wrote a piece titled, ``Afghan Strategy: Let's Go.'' It appeared…”

“National syndicated columnist Eugene Robinson recently wrote a piece titled, ``Afghan Strategy: Let's Go.'' It appeared in the June 11 Raleigh News and Observer. I would like to share some of Mr. Robinson's thoughts with the House. He began his column with this: ``Slender threads of hope are nice but do not constitute a plan. Nor do they justify continuing to pour American lives and resources into the bottomless pit of Afghanistan.'' And he closed this column with these words: ``We wanted to kill or capture Osama bin Laden, and we did. Even so, say the hawks, we have to stay in Afghanistan because of the dangerous instability across the border in nuclear-armed Pakistan. But does anyone believe the war in Afghanistan has made Pakistan more stable?'' Mr. Speaker, these are not my words, again. These are the words of Eugene Robinson who's nationally known and respected, and he is a liberal. He's not a conservative. But the point he's making is exactly right. How many more young men and women have to give their life for a corrupt leader? I would like to ask my colleagues on both sides to join Jim McGovern of Massachusetts--I am a cosponsor of this bill. It's H.R. 1735, the Afghan Exit and Accountability Act. It gives a parameter to the President as to how we need to start bringing our troops out of Afghanistan before 2014 or 2015. I look at this young man's face, Mr. Speaker. His name is Tyler Jordan. His father was killed in Iraq.…”