Political Quotes

“The Senator from West Virginia wishes now to speak on the Merkley amendment. Then it is our intention to move to a vote on the Merkley amendment. AMENDMENT NO. 3096 Amendment No. 3096 would express the Sense of Congress in support of the President's stated goals for transitioning the security lead to the Afghanistan and end the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan by no later than December 31, 2014. The Sense of Congress supports the goals of: Accomplishing the President's stated goal of transitioning the lead responsibility for security to the Government of Afghanistan by mid- 2013; as part of that transition, drawing down U.S. troops to the minimum level required to meet that goal; continuing the drawdown of U.S. troop levels at a steady pace through the end of 2014; and ending ``all regular combat operations'' by U.S. troops by not later than the end of 2014, and earlier to the extent consistent with a safe and orderly drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The Merkley amendment is consistent with President's plans for drawing down U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and it is consistent with our best chances for success in securing Afghanistan. It expresses this body's support for the President's transition goals which include the handover to Afghan security forces of primary responsibility for security throughout Afghanistan by mid-2013 and the completion of the security transition process by the end of 2014.…”