On the recordJanuary 24, 2012
On January 12, CBS Evening News did a segment on just how impossible is the situation in Afghanistan. This is something I have been speaking out on for months and months and months, and I think CBS illustrated beautifully just how dire of a situation it is in Afghanistan. I will read excerpts from the report containing examples of just how inept the Afghan Army is. ``CBS News correspondent Clarissa Ward found one reason in the Pech Valley. Americans lost their lives there building a base called Nangalam. When they tried to hand over their gains to the Afghan Army, the base went to ruin. ``Army Major Guillermo Guillen, from southern California, is frustrated. `You're relying on us to do all of your security for you. You need to be participating,' Guillen told an Afghan counterpart. ``On a recent patrol, some Afghan soldiers were not wearing helmets. One chatted on his cell phone. ``The United States military left Nangalam base last February, handing over to Afghan forces. But within weeks, things went badly wrong.'' Remember, Mr. Speaker, this is a CBS national report. ``Enemy forces returned to roam freely through the valley. The Afghan commander deserted. Hundreds of his soldiers followed. ``The Afghan forces that remained ransacked their own base. All the electric wires have been pulled out. Anything of any value was taken. You can see the wire hanging out of the light.'' Mr.…
