Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. I thank Chairman Obey for yielding me the time and for his incredible leadership on so many issues.

Madam Speaker, after nearly 10 years, thousands of American troops killed or wounded, and hundreds of billions of dollars of borrowed money, I believe we must radically change our policy in Afghanistan.

Of all the disturbing things in the recent Rolling Stone article about this war, the most disturbing was this: a senior adviser to General McChrystal said that if the American people paid more attention to the war, it would become even less popular.

Well, after seeing the documents published yesterday, it's clear what he was talking about: corruption and incompetence in the Afghan Government, questions about the role of the Pakistani intelligence services.

Madam Speaker, the same old same old is simply not working, and it's costing us dearly. At a time when the American people are suffering through the worst economy in generations, we're told that we can't afford to extend unemployment benefits. We're told that we can't afford to help States keep cops on the beat or teachers in the classroom. We're told we can't afford to help more families send their kids to college.

But today, we're asked to borrow another $33 billion for nation-building in Afghanistan.

Well, with all due respect, Madam Speaker, I think we need to do some more nation-building here at home.

All of us are dedicated to defeating al Qaeda wherever they are, but our current policy in Afghanistan is deeply flawed. Occupying Afghanistan in support of a corrupt and incompetent government will continue to claim the lives of our soldiers. It will continue to bankrupt us, and it will not enhance our national security.

This is not just the President's war. It's our war too. Congress has an obligation to ask the tough questions and demand straight answers. We must not simply kick the can down the road and hope for the best.

Our troops and their families have made incredible sacrifices. They deserve a policy worthy of those sacrifices. It is a mistakes to give this administration yet another blank check for this war.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill and make it clear that Congress demands a different approach.

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