Brian Jones: “I would like to start my comments out with an editorial from the Pensacola News Journal, dated June 25: ``Is Afghanistan…”

“I would like to start my comments out with an editorial from the Pensacola News Journal, dated June 25: ``Is Afghanistan worth it?'' ``It isn't often that conservative columnist George Will and liberal columnist Thomas Friedman are on the same page. Welcome to Afghanistan.'' Mr. Speaker, the reason we need to have this debate tonight is due to one issue. The main issue that bothers me greatly is what is called ``rules of engagement.'' In fact, on the 20th of June, in The Washington Post, George Will wrote an editorial, ``An NCO recognizes a flawed Afghanistan strategy.'' ``A recent email from a noncommissioned officer serving in Afghanistan: He explains why the rules of engagement for U.S. troops are `too prohibitive for coalition forces to achieve sustained tactical success.' '' I also would like to show, very quickly, two newspapers articles from the Marine Times: ``Rules of engagement. We are putting our kids out there to fight with their hands handcuffed--left to die. They call for help. Negligent Army leadership refuse and abandon them on the battlefield. Four marines and one Army killed.''”