Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. I ask the previous speaker to go in his community to all those same institutions and see what they say. I rise in support of this amendment as one who has supported this effort for all 10 years that we have been at it. In 2001, in response to the attacks of 9/11, the United States began a war in Afghanistan that targeted Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and the Taliban, which provided bin Laden with sanctuary and aid. I supported that effort. We have been pursuing this conflict for nearly a decade now. The death of Osama bin Laden was a landmark moment in our ongoing struggle to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat the terrorist networks that intend to do Americans harm, and that struggle has not ended with bin Laden's death. But his death is a moment for reflection on that struggle and how we can best equip ourselves to win it. Many of the terrorists against which we are fighting are no longer located in Afghanistan but are in disparate locations, from Yemen to Somalia to southeast Asia. And bin Laden was found in Pakistan. I support this amendment, because it focuses upon adjusting to a world of changing threats. It is essential that we fight the smartest war possible against terrorists--but it is fair to ask how a massive troop presence in Afghanistan continues to help us accomplish that goal.…”