WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Task Force on Peace and Security, co-chaired by Rep. Woolsey, will hold a briefing tomorrow to discuss the coming July deadline by which deployment out of Afghanistan is supposed to begin.

Recent statements by top administration officials and military brass indicate that the U.S. occupation could extend through 2014 and perhaps beyond.  What are the implications of an enduring and perhaps indefinite military presence?  Will our troops begin coming home in earnest this summer and what will it mean for military families if they don’t?

Rep. Woolsey and other CPC members will tackle these and other questions with a panel of experts:

Matthew Hoh – Former Marine Captain and State Department official.  Resigned his post in Afghanistan in protest against our policy there.

Robert A. Pape, Ph.D – Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago.  Expert on terrorism and insurgency and author of Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It.

Michael Hastings – Journalist and author of recent Rolling Stone article: “Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators.”  Also wrote the article that led to Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s resignation last year.

The briefing will follow the format of a Congressional hearing.  Details are as follows:

WHAT:           Briefing – “Afghanistan: A Countdown to Redeployment”

WHEN:           Tuesday, March 15, 1:30-3:00pm

WHERE:        2456 Rayburn House Office Building