Before the debate, tell Romney and Obama you want to end the war in Afghanistan now!

Tomorrow night’s second presidential debate may, or may not, surface big differences between the two candidates on various foreign and domestic policy issues.

One crucial issue on which we know there is not a lot of space between the candidates is ending our country’s longest war, now beginning its 12th year. President Obama has stated the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan will end in 2014 (though there is not clarity on whether this means the end of 2014, or earlier in the year). Mitt Romney has largely agreed with this.

However, the Administration is said to be negotiating with the Afghan government for up to 25,000 U.S. troops to remain for over a decade. Unlike other countries where U.S. forces are often paid for by the host government, this is likely to all be on the U.S. taxpayers’ tab.

There’s no reason in the world we should pay for that, nor for up to two more years of a miserably failed war. Sunday’s New York Times editorial comprehensively lays out why we should get out as soon as safely possible, not sometime in 2014.

Let the candidates hear, loud and clear, before the debate, that the war needs to end and the sooner the better. Take this quick action – copy and post the link to the Times editorial (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/opinion/sunday/time-to-pack-up.html) with a quick comment of your own (“I AGREE – END THE WAR NOW!” would work just fine) to the Obama and Romney campaign websites: Romney http://www.mittromney.com/forms/suggestions  Obama http://barackobama.force.com/questions.

Thanks for taking this simple action, and encourage your friends to do so as well.