Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I want to take some time today to talk about my views on Afghanistan and why we should rethink aid to Pakistan. I just completed my third 2-week reserve assignment in Afghanistan. While many Members of Congress get a firsthand look at the situation on factfinding missions, my time provided me a more indepth view, with a focus on the counternarcotics objectives of NATO's ISAF mission. Now, first, the good news. The work of our soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen is nothing short of amazing. Serving in one of the poorest, roughest, and most remote parts of the globe, they have crushed al- Qaida's training bases, they have driven the Taliban from government, they have fostered a new elected government, and welded 47 allies into a force for human rights, development, and education--especially for girls. Now, 42 percent of Afghans live on just $1 a day. Only one in four can read. Malnutrition is a serious problem, and infant mortality is the third highest of any country. According to the United Nations, nearly 40 percent of Afghan children under 3 are moderately or severely underweight, and more than 50 percent of children under 3 experience stunted growth. Afghanistan has more than twice the population of Illinois, but its electricity generation for the entire year is less than 2 percent of the electricity generated in Illinois just for the month of May.…”