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As the Obama administration begins considering various military options for withdrawing some troops from Afghanistan starting in July, we need to make sure President Obama knows we expect him to live up to his commitment to make the withdrawal substantial.
President Obama previously told reporters that he was "confident that the withdrawal will be significant,"1 but did not express the same confidence just last week in a closed-door meeting with House Democrats.
After that meeting, Rep. Jim McGovern said:
"I don't feel we got an assurance that there would be a substantial and significant drawdown of American forces in July."2
Just a few weeks ago, the House narrowly defeated an amendment to a defense funding bill that would have required the president to issue a timeline for withdrawal from Afghanistan. That the amendment came so close to passing is seen as a sign of growing discontent with the war.
But with more than 100,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, the Wall Street Journal reported that military leaders have drafted preliminary recommendations to withdraw just a token amount of 5,000 members of the military in July, and no more than another 5,000 by the end of the year.3
And the Politico quoted Defense Secretary Robert Gates as saying he was trying to build support for a "modest" withdrawal in July.4
The American people overwhelmingly want us to bring the occupation of Afghanistan to an end. But we cannot afford to be a silent majority.
Now is the time to add your voice to a growing chorus that is asking President Obama to demonstrate leadership and set us on course for a speedy end to the war. And the best way for President Obama to do that is to announce that we'll begin a significant reduction of our troop levels when he begins the withdrawal in July.
Thank you for working to end the war in Afghanistan.
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
CREDO Action from Working Assets
Notes:
1 President Obama's interview with the Associated Press, April 16, 2011.
2"House Democrats talk debt limit, Afghanistan with Obama," Felicia Sonmez and Paul Kane, Washington Post, June 2, 2011.
3"Military Draws Up Afghan Exit Plan," Julian E. Barnes and Adam Entous, Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2011.
4"Robert Gates's final act: Slow Afghan drawdown," Mike Allen, Politico, June 5, 2011.
1 President Obama's interview with the Associated Press, April 16, 2011.
2"House Democrats talk debt limit, Afghanistan with Obama," Felicia Sonmez and Paul Kane, Washington Post, June 2, 2011.
3"Military Draws Up Afghan Exit Plan," Julian E. Barnes and Adam Entous, Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2011.
4"Robert Gates's final act: Slow Afghan drawdown," Mike Allen, Politico, June 5, 2011.
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