FLOOR STATEMENT: The Human Cost of the War in Afghanistan

Tuesday, 19 June 2012 10:15

For the Congressional Record
Congressman Pete Stark
June 19, 2012

Statement on the Human Cost of the War in Afghanistan

MR STARK:  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep sadness and regret:  we have reached 2,000 American troop deaths in the War in Afghanistan—a war we needlessly continue to fight. My sincerest condolences go out to the families, friends, and communities who have lost loved ones to a war I have ardently opposed for the past 11 years.

Americans are not alone in our loss. As of summer 2011, conservative estimates indicate that anywhere between 30,000 and 45,000 Afghan civilians have lost their lives to this war. I will never understand why we continually squander lives and money to achieve tactical or strategic military goals. The cost is simply too great; the ends do not justify the means.

Seventy percent of Americans want a complete and early withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, according to a recent Rasmussen poll. Yet we do not listen, so more lives are lost in this nonsensical war. I hope that someday soon we will finally bring home our troops and help restore peace to the nation of Afghanistan.