Brian Jones: “It's a sad day in America when a major general in the United States Army cannot give his honest opinion about our war in…”

“It's a sad day in America when a major general in the United States Army cannot give his honest opinion about our war in Afghanistan without losing his job. Last week Major General Peter Fuller gave an interview in which he commented on the Afghan Government and the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Karzai. And I want to quote the general, Mr. Speaker. These are his words: ``erratic and isolated from reality,'' that is the leader of Afghanistan. He continued by saying: ``Why don't you just poke me in the eye with a needle! You've got to be kidding me. I'm sorry, we just gave you $11.6 billion, and now you're telling me, `I don't really care'.'' That's what our young men and women are doing; they are dying and losing their legs for this erratic leader of Afghanistan. Let me further state, in a December 8, 2010, Washington Post article, while meeting with General Petraeus and former Ambassador Eikenberry, President Karzai said he has three ``main enemies'': the Taliban, the United States, and the international community. ``If I had to choose sides today, I'd choose the Taliban.'' Yes, that's the erratic leader our young men and women are dying for. Just last month during a television interview, President Karzai stated, ``If ever there's a war between Pakistan and America, Afghanistan will side with Pakistan.'' These are not the statements of a leader for whom United States servicemembers should give life and limb.…”