Political Quotes

“Part of the reason we are in Afghanistan today is because the world turned its back on Afghanistan after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The Taliban and other thugs and warlords and misfits filled the power vacuum left after the country was devastated. The lesson from past efforts is that you cannot leave a shattered country to its own devices and the tender mercies of the most corrupt and violent. We have a good start before us today, and it is made better by the elements of the manager's amendment. The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002 will provide $1.05 billion of reconstruction aid to Afghanistan over 4 years. The bill focuses on creating a stable environment for Afghanistan, addressing a wide variety of issues we have already heard related to on the floor. It is, however, only a start. The United Nations and the World Bank estimate that reconstruction of Afghanistan will require at least $1.7 billion in the first year, $10 billion over the next 5 years, and $15 billion in the next decade.”