Congressional Victory for a Quicker End to the Afghanistan War

 In Afghanistan, Congress, Uncategorized

The Senate voted by voice vote this week in favor of Senator Jeff Merkley’s (D-OR) bipartisan amendment  on behalf of 21 Senators to the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2012 asking the President to  to submit a plan for “expediting the drawdown of United States combat troops in Afghanistan.”

Peace Action is proud that we endorsed and helped elect Sen. Merkley and we have been working closely with his staff over the last year to end the Afghanistan war sooner.

In 2010, only 18 Senators supported former Sen. Feingold’s (D-WI) amendment to require a plan for the safe, orderly, and expeditious redeployment of forces from Afghanistan.

Last June, Peace Action helped get 27 Senators to sign a letter circulated by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) urging President Obama to order a “sizable and sustained” withdrawal of troops.

While the President then announced the withdrawal of 33,000 troops from Afghanistan, it’s still clear that troops will be there beyond the end of 2014.

It’s been the work of Peace Action and others that have shifted public opinion that CNN recently reported that 63% of Americans opposed to the war in Afghanistan.  We have taken that opposition to pressure Congress and the Obama Administration.  We will continue to do so until all our troops are home.

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  • averygreenleaf
    Reply

    It’s long past time to draw down our forces in Afghanistan. I’m pleased to hear that the Senate voted for Senator Merkley’s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012. It’s time for President Obama to bring out troops home, and for the Afghani people to take control of their country and destiny.

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