In
the News Fact Sheets
Put Fight Against al Qaeda First
Feingold, Reid Push Administration
to Put Fight Against al Qaeda First February
25, 2008
As our open-ended presence in Iraq strains
on our military to the breaking point, we face increasingly
dangerous situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. U.S. Senator
Russ Feingold and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have introduced
legislation to force the administration to focus on those
threats and draw down our troops in Iraq. The words of top
U.S. military commanders and intelligence officials themselves
make the best case for refocusing on Al Qaeda and its affiliates:
On the increasing threat to our
national security in Afghanistan and Pakistan:
- "Al Qaeda safe havens in the under-governed regions
of Pakistan, combined with the recent assassination of Benazir
Bhutto, also contribute to regional instability. In my judgment,
the most likely near term attack on the United States will
come from Al Qaeda via these safe havens. Continued Congressional
support for the legitimate government of Pakistan braces
this bulwark in the long war against violent extremism."
– Testimony of Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Senate Armed Services Committee, February
6, 2008
- "…al Qaeda remains the preeminent terror threat against
the United States, both here at home and abroad. Despite
our successes over the years, the group has retained or
regenerated key elements of its capability, including its
top leadership, operational lieutenants and a de facto safe
haven…in the Pakistani border area with Afghanistan known
as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas or FATA."–
Testimony of Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell,
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, February 5, 2008
- The Atlantic Council of the United States led by former
NATO Commander, General James Jones, released a report that
stated that NATO forces in Afghanistan are in a "strategic
stalemate," "Afghanistan remains a failing state.
It could become a failed state” and “Make no mistake, NATO
is not winning in Afghanistan."
On the state of our military:
- General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army,
says, "There’s no question that the army is stretched
as a result of more than six years of war," "The
army today is out of balance," and "We’re deploying
at unsustainable rates." - Brookings Institute Briefing,
December 4, 2007
- Admiral Mike Mullen testified before Congress that the
U.S. military is taking a "significant" risk with
current troop deployments. On the topic of deployments,
Mullen said, "Fifteen months is too long, and we need
to get to 12 and actually move to a one-year deployment
and two years back as rapidly as we can." - House Armed
Services Committee Hearing, February 6, 2008
With our military commanders describing
the urgent need to address the threat posed by Al Qaeda and
the Taliban, and the strain on our forces, how does the administration
react?
"In a clear sign the drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq
will be suspended, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday
he favors taking time this summer to assess security gains
before more troops leave the country, an idea President Bush
is expected to support." – Associated Press, February
12th, 2008
Mullen probably summed up the administration’s misguided philosophy
best when he said before Congress, “In Afghanistan, we do
what we can. In Iraq, we do what we must.” (House Armed Services
Committee Hearing – December 11, 2007)
Feingold-Reid Legislation Forces
Administration to Get National Security Priorities Straight
Congress needs to end the president’s failed
strategy in Iraq, so that we can focus on improving our homeland
security and denying al Qaeda a safe haven in Pakistan, Afghanistan
and elsewhere. Feingold has introduced two new bills, both
cosponsored by Reid, to refocus our attention on the global
fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
S. 2633:
- Requires the safe redeployment of U.S. combat troops from
Iraq.
- Requires that after 120 days, funding in Iraq be limited
to the following: conducting targeted military operations
against al Qaeda and its affiliates, providing security
for U.S. personnel and infrastructure, training Iraqi Security
Forces (in a noncombatant capacity), providing equipment
and training to U.S. troops, and continuing to redeploy
U.S. troops from Iraq.
S. 2634:
- Requires the administration to present a report to Congress
within 60 days of enactment outlining its global strategy
for defeating al Qaeda and its affiliates. The report shall
include an analysis of the relative threats in particular
countries and regions and recommendations to ensure that
U.S. military, intelligence and diplomatic assets are best
deployed to meet those geographic threats.
- Requires the administration to develop a strategy ensuring
that deployments do not undermine military readiness or
homeland security, and that reserve units are not deployed
more than once every four years and regular units are not
redeployed more than once every two years.
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