[Peace-discuss] Fw: Message from Senator Barack Obama

[Jenifer Cartwright]

I wrote about ending the war in Afghanistan (as well as in Iraq), but of course nothing about the "n" word (negotiation) in his response (yet).
 --Jenifer

--- On Mon, 10/20/08, senator_obama at obama.senate.gov <senator_obama at obama.senate.gov> wrote:

From: senator_obama at obama.senate.gov <senator_obama at obama.senate.gov>
Subject: Message from Senator Barack Obama
To: jencart13 at yahoo.com
Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 5:50 PM



Dear Jenifer:

Thank you for contacting me to share your concern regarding the situation in Afghanistan. I appreciate hearing from you.

Six years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States has failed to secure the very country where the attackers plotted and trained. With both the Taliban and al-Qaeda regrouping, the current situation in Afghanistan is unacceptable and ominous. Among other reasons, the diversion of resources and attention to the ill-conceived war in Iraq has contributed to backsliding in Afghanistan, and I am committed to reverse this trend.

In January 2007, I introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act (S. 433). This binding and comprehensive legislation proposed not only reversing the President's dangerous and ill-conceived escalation, but also beginning to redeploy troops out of Iraq with the goal to have all combat forces out by the end of March 2008, a date consistent with the Iraq Study Group’s expectations. Senate Majority Leader Reid used this approach as the original model for the troop redeployment provision in the supplemental appropriations bill which President Bush vetoed in May 2007. This bill would have set a new course for U.S. policy in Iraq that, in my judgment, held the best prospect for bringing a responsible end to the war and actually getting our troops home. As Congress considers additional funding for the Iraq War, I will continue to push for a new course in Iraq that immediately begins a safe and orderly withdrawal of our combat troops, that changes our military
 mission to focus on training and counter-terrorism, and that focuses our military efforts on the real threats facing our country. 

Ending the war will allow us to direct badly needed resources to Afghanistan. Our troops have fought valiantly there, but Iraq has deprived them of the support they need and deserve. We must do more to secure the country, re-enforce our counter-terrorism operations, and create economic opportunities that improve the livelihoods of ordinary Afghans so that they resist turning to extremism. 

Development efforts in Afghanistan are also playing a crucial role in increasing the country's stability, and I am pleased that the FY 2008 omnibus spending package provides over $1 billion to continue our reconstruction and counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. This law makes funds available to address the needs of Afghan women, girls, and farmers, and supports the U.S. Agency for International Development's Afghan Civilian Assistance Program, which helps to build clinics, schools, and local capacity. As the FY 2009 budget process continues, you may rest assured that I will continue to advocate for adequate assistance to help stabilize Afghanistan. 

Again, thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator


P.S. Our system does not allow direct response to this email. However, if you would like to contact me again, please use the form on the website: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/


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