On the recordJune 6, 2012
Last week, a bipartisan group of Members convened a panel discussion on Capitol Hill. Actually, it was an informal hearing about the Afghanistan war. One of the speakers was Lieutenant Colonel Danny Davis who, after two tours in Afghanistan, has courageously come forward, speaking truth to power with his assessment of the situation on the ground and his belief that the war is wrong. I wish more of my colleagues had been there to hear what Lieutenant Colonel Davis had to say. He talked about the arrogance and stubbornness that allows our country to continue this military occupation long after it's proven futile. He discussed the strain and stress we put on our Armed Forces. And, as he explained, the Taliban are stronger now than they were. Push them down, he said, and they pop up in another area. After the most powerful military surge in the history of civilization, we still haven't been able to keep them down. This shouldn't be a major revelation. When will we learn? We are emboldening the very radical forces that we're trying to defeat. It's common sense that thousands and thousands of occupying U.S. troops will breed and do breed resentment and drive the Afghan people straight into the arms of the Taliban. Every additional day that we keep boots on the ground in Afghanistan is another day that the Taliban wins over more recruits and poses a greater threat to our safety and our interests. Here's a novel idea, Mr. Speaker.…
