House Proceeding 09-17-09 on Sep 17th, 2009 :: 0:28:55 to 0:33:50
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0:28:51 to 0:29:12( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: controversial provisions that we can't work together. i wanted to explain that and cha chairman miller and congressman perlmutter for working with me. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. ms. woolsey of california. walwal thank you, mr. speaker -- ms. woolsey: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, evy child and every adult is familiar with the story of goldy locks.

0:28:55 to 0:33:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Lynn C. Woolsey

0:29:13 to 0:29:33( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: remember how it goes. after wandering into the three bears' house, three bowls of pourage. one was too hot, one was too cold but one was the medium temperature and it was just right.

0:29:34 to 0:29:54( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: i mention this because "the new york times" recently reported that goldilocks is playing a role in shaping american defense policy. according to the report, general mcchrystal is expected to give secretary of defense gates three options for troop increases in afghanistan.

0:29:55 to 0:30:15( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: the three options are, first, 15,000 more troops. second, 25,000 more troops. or third, 45,000 more troops. peng officials apparent -- pentagon officials apparently believe that troops will choose the medium option, 25,000. according to "the times" they

0:30:16 to 0:30:36( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: call this the goldilocks tion. here's why. spending -- sending 15,000 more troops would be too cold because it wouldn't be enough to satisfy the generals that are requesting. sending 45,000 more troops would be too hot because it

0:30:37 to 0:30:58( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: would cause political problems. so sending the medium number of troops, 25,000, is considered just right. of course, the problem with this is that afghanistan is not a children's story. it is a real war where real people are getting killed. and it is rapidly losing the

0:30:59 to 0:31:19( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: support of the american people. recent polls show that the american people want to reduce our troop strength in afghanistan, not increase it. the american people have good reason to oppose the escalation of the conflict. they know that the recent elections in afghanistan were filled with fraud.

0:31:20 to 0:31:41( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: and they believe the government is more interested in corruption than in improving the lives of the afghan people. the american people also know that we have already spent nearly $225 billion in afghanistan but have little to show for it. our troops have performed

0:31:42 to 0:32:05( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: brilliantly and courageously, but the insurgency is growing and the war is getting harder to fight every single day. besides, they believe the money that we have point of order into afghanistan is -- poured into afghanistan is desperately needed here at home for health care reform and other vital domestic problems. the american people also know

0:32:06 to 0:32:28( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: that we to not have a clear mission in afghanistan and there is no exit strategy and they fear that we run the risk of being considered an occupying force. since the afghans have opposed and defeated every single foreign por that has ever tried to occupy its nation, it all seems to be a repeat of past failures.

0:32:29 to 0:32:51( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: four awful these reasons, we need to debate and we need to reconsider what the u.s. role is in afghanistan. i'm urging the house to support my bill, h.res. 363, the smart security platform for the century, the smart security platform would change our mission in afghanistan to

0:32:52 to 0:33:12( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: emphasize economic development, humanitarian aid, education, jobs and better governs. -- governance. it will help afghanistan develop its policing and intelligence compass its. policing and intelligence, you see, are far more effective than massive military invasions

0:33:13 to 0:33:34( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: when it comes to tracking down violent extremists in the communities where they lurk. mr. speaker, if the administration sends more troops to afghanistan, the united states will be doubling down on a strategy that has already failed. the afghan people don't want the united states to occupy their country, and the american

0:33:35 to 0:33:50( Edit History Discussion )

Lynn C. Woolsey: people don't want an occupation either. i urge president obama to reject any plan to send more troops to afghanistan because, like goldilocks, who should not have eaten any of the portage