A bipartisan resolution has been introduced in the Senate on Monday calling for the US to withdraw military forces from Afghanistan. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Tom Udall (D-NM).
The resolution, called the 2019 Afghan Forces Going Home After Noble Service Act (AFGHAN Service Act), would declare victory. This is on the grounds that Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011 and al-Qaeda is all but eliminated within Afghanistan.
The bill goes further than just Afghanistan, too, as with the completion of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, it would repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). Though the AUMF was initially passed to invade Afghanistan, it has been broadly expanded by presidents since as a legal justification for wars across the world.
The text of the bill calls for all US troops to be out of Afghanistan within a year of passage. It would also call for all US troops who were deployed in the Global War on Terror (estimated at over 3 million troops) to get $2,500 bonuses.
Sen. Paul addressed the bill, saying that the Global War on Terror had cost $6 trillion, adding that the war in Afghanistan should’ve ended years ago. Sen. Paul cited President Trump’s admonishment that “great nations don’t fight endless wars” while pointing out that military goals had all been achieved years ago. He warned Afghanistan had just become a war of nation-building.
It is likely that the administration will object to this bill, since they are in the process of negotiating a settlement of the Afghan War. This bill makes no provision for a negotiated deal with the Taliban, instead turning over all facilities to the Afghan government and withdrawing US troops.
Those wishing to contact their Senators to express support for the AFGHAN Service Act can find information to do so here. There is as of yet no specific timeline for a vote, but contacting them as early as possible may help rally support to advance the bill.
The A in AFGHAN stands for Afghan.
Everyone should support this bill, regardless of what “Team” you feel you are on. It doesn’t matter who gets us out. If they support this bill then they are the good guys. Not that I expect the Senate to actually move on this, but it will show who is on the right side of the issue and who is not.
As for Trump; I hope he gets us out even sooner and makes this unnecessary, but if it does pass he should sign it and be glad he has the cover to now get us out of the rest of it too .
Hopefully the Senate and trump will race each other to get out…
Yes, and maybe I’ll grow a vagina and win the lottery. I guess all we can really do is hope for the best and fight for what we hope, one jab at a time.
I wholeheartedly agree. Everyone should support this bill, regardless of what “Team” you feel you’re on. We’ve been in Afghanistan way too long and have never actually defeated the Pashtun tribes that reside in the caves there .. Truth is, no outside force has ever defeated them in Afghanistan’s entire history, dating back to Alexander the Great.
As for Pres. Trump, I hope he does get us out even sooner and make this unnecessary .. but if it does pass, he should, indeed, sign it and be glad he has the cover to now get us out of the rest of it, too.
That bill should pass on substance but also on style: that is the best acronym ever 🙂
I disagree with the $2,500.00 bonus but it would be worth the 7 billion. It’s a good tactical move because it helps make those who oppose the bill to be seen as depriving the troops of their just rewards. Oh, the irony.
I would agree, if they also sent $2,500 to each and every refugee caused by US militancy.
Imagine the zeros at the end of that number. 7 billion would look extremely minute.
This is a perfect example of putting lipstick on a pig. It’s still the same disgusting pig, but if this is what it takes to bring our “noble” troops home, go for it, Rand. The $2,500 bonus can go toward extended PTSD therapy, or at least pay for a boatload of medical cannabis.
Unfortunately, $2,500 wouldn’t buy a boatload of medical cannabis, at least not in my state. Pot growers like to rip off people too. Capitalism rears its ugly head. Again.
Why not include Syria, Yemen, and a few hundred other countries. The bill will die in committee.
If not, the president will sign knowing he’s satisfied the base. It would then be overridden and Americans would pounce on Congress. Nothing would change with our troop deployments.
Perhaps the senator has some concerns our Afghanistan troops will be utilized in the Iran offensive.
No kidding.
I’m guessing ‘leaving’ will look much the same as ‘assisting’