Political Quotes

“The documents released to the news media this past weekend by WikiLeaks add to the mounting evidence that the war in Afghanistan remains fiscally unsustainable and morally unjustifiable. The New York Times puts it bluntly. They say, ``The documents illustrate why, after the United States has spent almost $300 billion on the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban are stronger than at any time since 2001.'' Madam Speaker, I don't know how we can possibly reach any other conclusion: This war is not worth the huge investment in blood and treasure which the American people have been asked to make for nearly a decade. WikiLeaks uncovers much that has been missing from the official accounts of the situation on the ground in Afghanistan. To give just one important example, they reveal that the Taliban gained access to sophisticated heat-seeking missiles, which they used to kill U.S. and NATO troops. Afghan security forces do not enjoy any trust or legitimacy in the eyes of Afghan citizens. They are not just incapable, according to specific WikiLeaks reports, they are often brutally cruel and corrupt. Petty bribery; a police chief selling ammunition on the black market; commanders stealing their underlings' salaries--this is just the least of it, Madam Speaker. In one account, a police commander takes advantage of a teenage girl and then shoots his own bodyguard when the bodyguard refuses to open fire on a civilian complaining about the rape.”