Senate Poised to Vote on Afghan War Withdrawal

By Matt Southworth on 11/20/2011 @ 06:45 PM

Tags: Afghanistan, War Is Not the Answer

Just before leaving for Thanksgiving recess, Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and a bipartisan group of seven other Senators introduced an amendment that would expedite a U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The amendment was offered on the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, a bill which authorizes military operations and spending that includes the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This measure is both timely and important.

The Obama administration is reportedly considering a speedier withdrawal than previously planned from Afghanistan between now and 2014. The U.S. and Afghan governments are presently considering what the Obama administration is calling a “strategic partnership” agreement. Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently received the backing of a Loya Jirga—a traditional Afghan assembly—which agreed for a conditional presence of U.S. forces for at least the next 10 years. Moving forward, the Strategic Partnership agreement is likely to be the centerpiece of discussions at the Chicago NATO Summit in May 2012.

The combination of a strategic partnership and a speedier military withdrawal is not, as it might seem, a contradiction. It means the U.S. may be considering a long term but smaller presence—leading to a considerable and appropriate amount of lingering skepticism regarding long term intentions. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that Congress, the body responsible for committing U.S. forces and declaring war, is all but left out. This is exactly why the upcoming Senate vote is so important.

The Senate has only taken one critical vote on the U.S. war strategy in Afghanistan in recent years—a vote on an amendment offered by former Senator Russ Feingold (WI) in May of 2010. That amendment failed by a vote of 18-80. This June, Senator Merkley and 26 other Senators wrote to President Obama to request to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The growing tide of opposition in the Senate has only manifested itself in these two measures thus far.

The week after Thanksgiving will be the next chance, when the Senate takes a vote on the Merkley amendment, to grow congressional opposition to the U.S. war in Afghanistan. The House of Representatives has voted on a number of measure which have served to build opposition, most notable being the 204-215 vote on the McGovern-Jones exit strategy amendment. A strong Senate vote could not only build on that tide of opposition, but also send a message to the White House that the U.S. war in Afghanistan is politically unsustainable. FCNL has been consistent in saying that the U.S. war strategy has failed, but that the U.S. should not abandon Afghans. This vote is an important step in shaping a new policy.

Call your Senators today using FCNL’s toll free number, 1-877-429-0678. Ask them support Senator Merkley’s amendment No. 1174 to the National Defense Authorization Act which calls on the administration to expedite the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.