Jared Polis' Remarks in Support of Lee Amendment to Responsibly End the War in Afghanistan

Thursday, July 1, 2010
Representative Jared Polis

I rise today in support of the rule and in support of the Lee amendment to responsibly end the war in Afghanistan. There is a real terrorist threat to our country. But that threat does not emanate from Afghanistan, it emanates from al Qaeda—a stateless menace, a menace that will organize and set up wherever we are not. The ongoing and indefinite occupation in Afghanistan is not a constructive step toward the battle against the terrorist threat to this country. In fact, through the civilian casualties we only increase the pool of potential terrorists every day that we continue this occupation.

I strongly support this concept of allowing our funds only to be used for the orderly withdrawal of American troops from the country of Afghanistan. The mission, the challenge we have put before our men and women, is nearly a difficult and impossible challenge: to try to build a cohesive nation state out of a tribal nation, out of dealing with people in our own employ who are of dubious moral character, and continue to engage in the opium and drug trade to finance their related activities.

There is a difference between the ongoing battles and insurgency in Afghanistan and the terrorist threats to this nation. We should spare no expense in going after terrorists wherever they are, engaging in aggressive intelligence gathering operations and taking out the ability of terrorists to train. But the occupation of Afghanistan is not a constructive step to that end. Thank you.