Brian Jones: “I am again on the floor today because our Nation has failed to heed the warning of George Washington, who told us to…”

“I am again on the floor today because our Nation has failed to heed the warning of George Washington, who told us to beware of foreign entanglements. We have lost over 4,474 Americans in Iraq and 2,276 Americans in Afghanistan. In both of these wars combined, 46,720 of our servicemembers have been wounded. Furthermore, the American taxpayer is spending $10.45 million every hour to pay for the cost of the war in Afghanistan since 2001. Mr. Speaker, let me repeat that. We are spending $10.45 million an hour just to pay for the money spent in Afghanistan since 2001. Despite these facts, we are now entering into a long-term agreement that, at best, is a failure--at best is a failure. It is with great disappointment that I share an NBC article, entitled, ``Endless Afghanistan? United States-Afghanistan Agreement Would Keep Troops in Place and Funds Flowing Perhaps Indefinitely''-- perhaps until 2024. I would like to read a short paragraph and submit for the record a few additional excerpts. While many Americans have been led to believe the war in Afghanistan will soon be over, a draft of a key United States-Afghan security deal obtained by NBC News shows the United States is prepared to maintain military outposts in Afghanistan for many years to come, and pay to support hundreds of thousands of Afghan security forces. Mr. Speaker, George Washington was right. Afghanistan is an impossible situation. History has proven that it is impossible.…”