Mr. Speaker, the year 2009 ended 12 days ago, and many were glad to see it go. It was a very difficult year for American families as they struggled with the recession. It was also a very difficult year for our brave troops in Afghanistan. The death toll was 317. That was twice as many as the previous year, and it made 2009 the deadliest year of the war. We'd all like to believe that this year will be safer for our troops in Afghanistan, but it doesn't look like it will be that way. Our military leaders have already predicted that President Obama's decision to send 30,000 more troops will lead to an increase in violence this spring and summer.

Sadly, America's military families who have already sacrificed so very much must brace themselves for more as the attacks on our troops continue. Violent extremism is thriving in Afghanistan because of the crippled economy, the broken infrastructure, the lack of education and other social services, the breakdown in law and order, and the belief that the central government isn't doing nearly enough to help their people.

Mr. Speaker, there is no military solution to these problems. That's why I'm opposed to sending more troops to Afghanistan. We don't need new troops. We need a new strategy. We must start using the tools of smart security to improve the lives of the Afghan people and give them hope for a better future. One of the keys to this new strategy must be a civilian surge, a surge of experts and aid workers who can help the Afghan people to rebuild their communities and to rebuild their country. Everyone seems to agree that this is a good idea. The President said it's a good idea. Our diplomats and military leaders in Afghanistan have said it's a good idea. The people of our country certainly know that it's a good idea.

However, the last supplemental appropriations bill, which I voted against, lacked significant funding for the civilian surge, and President Obama only mentioned it once in his address on Afghanistan at West Point. The numbers on the ground tell the story, Mr. Speaker. When I questioned Ambassador Eikenberry last month at a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, he indicated that there will be 1,000 civilians in Afghanistan by the end of this month, but we will have 100,000 troops there soon. That's a ratio of 100 to 1. So we aren't getting the civilian surge that we were promised. The current strategy, in fact, of relying on the military option ignores what will really work in Afghanistan: A real commitment to economic development, humanitarian aid, and social services, better law enforcement to disrupt terrorist networks, and better governance and systems of justice. The Afghan people desperately need a better future and a reason to reject violent extremism. They need hope for a positive future.

Mr. Speaker, winning in Afghanistan is about winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. Smart security is the way to do that.