REP. MIKE THOMPSON RELEASES STATEMENT ON TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WAR OF AFGHANISTAN
October 7, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today issued the following statement on the ten year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan:
“Today marks the ten year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, the longest running war in our nation's history. It is important we honor and recognize the sacrifices our military, intelligence communities and their families have made. However, I strongly believe we must immediately withdraw our young men and women from this war.
“Our military's counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan has not shown the results that our military leaders expected and that the American people demand. Over the last 10 years, we have lost more than 1,800 young men and women and our country has spent close to $450 billion fighting this war, while our partner in the Afghan government remains mired in corruption. Meanwhile, the threat posed by Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations like it continues to spread across the globe.
“Instead of fighting this never-ending war in Afghanistan, we need a counterterrorism strategy that targets al Qaeda wherever they operate - whether that be in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Europe and even right here in the United States. It's time to bring our troops home and focus on eliminating al Qaeda around the world.”
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
“Today marks the ten year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, the longest running war in our nation's history. It is important we honor and recognize the sacrifices our military, intelligence communities and their families have made. However, I strongly believe we must immediately withdraw our young men and women from this war.
“Our military's counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan has not shown the results that our military leaders expected and that the American people demand. Over the last 10 years, we have lost more than 1,800 young men and women and our country has spent close to $450 billion fighting this war, while our partner in the Afghan government remains mired in corruption. Meanwhile, the threat posed by Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations like it continues to spread across the globe.
“Instead of fighting this never-ending war in Afghanistan, we need a counterterrorism strategy that targets al Qaeda wherever they operate - whether that be in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Europe and even right here in the United States. It's time to bring our troops home and focus on eliminating al Qaeda around the world.”
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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