On the recordMay 17, 2012
I appreciate the chairman yielding me the time. I stand in opposition to this amendment. My colleague stated it very well earlier. This says just get out now. My colleagues across the aisle in support of this amendment have continued to use the word ``responsible'' over and over, and there is nothing responsible about abandoning the efforts in Afghanistan today without proper conditions on the ground. The President has a plan in place. Some of us may have had differing ideas with him, but he put a plan in place that says our combat troops will be out of there by 2014 contingent with conditions on the ground. The Afghan people are responsible for their own security, and we're trying to help them get to that place with the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police, and the Afghan local army. Those efforts are going on across the provinces of Afghanistan as we speak, and they're getting into the lead to take care of their security. But abandoning of Afghanistan today would put at risk 27 million Afghanis who are counting on us to get this right, counting on us to put them in a position to be able to defend themselves when we do leave in 2014. So getting out now, Mr. Chairman, is irresponsible rather than responsible. Now, I understand all of us are tired. All of us are weary. None of us like to go to those funerals.…
