On the recordMay 17, 2012
I thank the gentlelady from California, and I appreciate that ending America's longest war--over 10 years--is not an unreasonable notion, because there is a serious misunderstanding going on about this amendment on the other side. Withdrawing United States troops does not mean we're abandoning Afghanistan. Please, there's a difference. There are other ways that we can continue to develop the diplomatic and political solutions that can't be won at gunpoint. Don't you get it? If we're leaving in 2014, we're just saying let's speed it up; let's begin a rational withdrawal. And we have a responsibility to keep a commitment to Afghanistan. It doesn't mean troops. It doesn't mean our military has to die. Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes at this time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. West), a member of the committee, a gentleman who has led troops in battle.
