Lawmakers express doubts about Afghan withdrawal assurances

http://peaceblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/houseafghanlettertopelosi.pdf

June 23, 2010
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
H-232 U.S. Capitol Building
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Madam Speaker,

"If Americans pulled back and started paying attention to this war, it would become even less popular." This is how Senior Advisor to General Stanley McChrystal characterized the war in Afghanistan to Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings in his controversial article, "The Runaway General."

News coverage of the Hastings story has focused almost exclusively on the intemperate and inappropriate remarks of General McChrystal and his aides, which has led to the resignation of General McChrystal. What we find particularly disturbing, however, are the characterizations of the war by key military leaders that contradict what Congress and the American people have been told by the administration.

Until a full and complete explanation of these comments and views are presented to Congress, we believe that a vote by the House of Representatives on the Administration's request for a supplemental appropriation for the war in Afghanistan would be inappropriate.

According to the article, "Instead of beginning to withdraw troops next year, as Obama promised, the military hopes to ramp up its counterinsurgency campaign even further." A senior military official stationed in Afghansitan is quoted: "There's a possibility we could ask for another surge of U.S. forces next summer if we see success here." General McChrystal's Chief of Operations, Major General Bill Mayville, described a war in Afghanistan as unwinnable: "It's not going to look like a win, smell like a win or taste like a win. This is going to end in an argument.

These comments raise serious questions about the war, those responsible for prosecuting the war, and the prospect that a withdrawal of U.S. forces will begin next July as the president has assured us. We therefore respectfully request that action on the FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriation Act for the war in Afghanistan not be brought before the House of Representatives unless and until these serious questions and concerns are fully addressed.

James P. McGovern
Walter B. Jones
Chellie Pingree
John Lewis (GA)
Lynn Woolsey
Barbara Lee(CA)
Gwen Moore(WI)
Rush Holt
Keith Ellison
Dennis Kucinich
Sam Farr
Mazie Hirono
Richard Neal
Jan Schakowsky
Jerrod Nadler
Pete Stark
Earl Blumenauer
Phile Hare
Ron Paul
Ed Whitfield
John "Jimmy" Duncan
Bob Filner
Peter DeFazio
Michael Capuano
Donald Payne
Steve Cohen
Maxine Waters
Barney Frank
John Conyers, Jr.
Tim Johnson (IL)

:kick:

mixed messages.

"if we see some success here."

Gee, General, what odds would you give on a request for more troops if there's little to no success?

That's not even getting into definitions of what might constitute "some" success.

Surge if you do, surge if you don't. Rinse and Repeat.