Skip to main content

McGovern on Afghanistan

By contributor,

Earlier today, over 200 of my colleages stood with me in voting for the McGovern-Jones amendment, sending the strongest bipartisan message yet that it is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.

The reasons for our landmark effort are simple: We have no clear mission; the Afghanistani government is corrupt; and we continue to borrow and spend billions of dollars to pay for the longest war in our nation's history. For what?

I believe we need to re-think what we're doing in Afghanistan.

I believe that we must now set the plan to bring our service men and women home. Home to their sons, daughters, parents. Home to their communities.

I believe that politicians put our troops - the best soldiers in the world - in harm's way. And we now are obligated to bring them safely home.

Today, our stand wasn't about partisan politics, it was about doing the right thing for our troops and our country.

This war has cost us too much in blood and treasure. And I believe our focus should be on creating jobs, and protecting our citizens right here at home; not fighting an endless war over there.

We sent a strong message today, but the struggle isn't over. I hope you'll stand with me.

With best wishes,

Jim McGovern
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

NOTE: The amendment to the defense authorization bill, sponsored by Representative James McGovern and co-sponsor Walter J. of North Carolina failed 204-215.