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Sen. Barbara Boxer Uses Bin Laden’s Death to Promote Afghanistan Pullout

Posted on | May 14, 2011 | 12 Comments

The U.S. special-operations mission that killed Osama bin Laden signals that it is time to end U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan, Sen. Barbara Boxer said in an e-mail to liberal activists Saturday.

“Three days after 9/11, my Senate colleagues and I voted unanimously to authorize the president to use all necessary and appropriate force against those who attacked us,” the California Democrat said in a message sent to members of the group Democracy for America. “Now, after delivering justice to Osama bin Laden, it’s time to bring that mission to a close.”

In the e-mail (see the full text below) urging DFA members to support her “Safe and Responsible Redeployment of U.S. Combat Forces from Afghanistan Act,” Boxer argued that U.S. troops in Afghanistan make no contribution to anti-terrorism efforts.

Boxer wrote: “Of course, bin Laden was not found on a battlefield. He was ultimately brought down thanks to a sophisticated tracking effort conducted by our intelligence community. Other terrorists will likely be found in the same way: through targeted and thorough counterterrorism efforts, not by 100,000 ground forces in Afghanistan.”

Democracy for America is a liberal activist group founded by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean after his failed 2004 presidential campaign. DFA boasts more than 1 million members and engages in a variety of political activities, including fundraising for liberal candidates. Friday, DFA announced that its endorsement of Kathy Hochul had raised more than $39,000 in online contributions for the Democratic candidate in the May 24 congressional special election in New York’s 26th District.

Boxer’s Saturday e-mail includes a link to a Democracy for America page where members can  “Become a Citizen Co-Sponsor” of the Afghanistan withdrawal legislation, joining the bill’s four Senate co-sponsors, Boxer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois).

“Now, justice has been done, and the time has come to leave. Working together, we will end the war in Afghanistan,” Boxer wrote.

* * * FULL TEXT OF BOXER DFA E-MAIL  * * *

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, we knew our country was under attack. United like never before, we also knew that one day there would be justice for this terror.
Two weeks ago, justice was finally delivered — by brave members of the U.S. armed forces and intelligence personnel who, at the direction of President Obama, hunted down Osama bin Laden.
Of course, bin Laden was not found on a battlefield. He was ultimately brought down thanks to a sophisticated tracking effort conducted by our intelligence community. Other terrorists will likely be found in the same way: through targeted and thorough counterterrorism efforts, not by 100,000 ground forces in Afghanistan.
That is why I support President Obama’s plan to begin withdrawing American combat forces from Afghanistan this July, and why I have authored legislation requiring an end date for that effort.
It’s time to pass this important legislation. Please stand with my friends at Democracy for America, many of my Senate colleagues, and me by becoming a citizen co-sponsor right now.
Sign on as a citizen co-sponsor of the Safe and Responsible Redeployment of U.S. Combat Forces from Afghanistan Act — and help show strong grassroots support for bringing an end to the Afghanistan war now.
Three days after 9/11, my Senate colleagues and I voted unanimously to authorize the president to use all necessary and appropriate force against those who attacked us. Now, after delivering justice to Osama bin Laden, it’s time to bring that mission to a close.
Over the past 10 years, we have lost 1,564 heroic American service members in Afghanistan. Another 11,657 have been wounded, many grievously. At the same time, we have spent nearly half a trillion dollars on the war in Afghanistan even while facing a fiscal crisis here at home.
Our brave men and women in uniform have performed admirably. Now it’s time to bring them home, while transferring responsibility to the Afghan government and military. We have trained 150,000 members of the Afghan Army and 120,000 members of the Afghan Police. It is now up to them.
Our military men and women cannot continue to police every town and village in Afghanistan. But what we can do is continue to provide advice as Afghans take responsibility for their defense and continue our effective, targeted counterterrorism effort.
Sign on now as a citizen co-sponsor of my legislation calling for a timeline for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
While Osama bin Laden’s death does not lessen the tragic loss of thousands of victims or the pain of their loved ones, it has dealt a significant blow to al-Qaida and sent a strong message to those who would harm us: The United States will pursue justice for as long as it takes.
Now, justice has been done, and the time has come to leave. Working together, we will end the war in Afghanistan.
Thank you for standing with us in this important effort.

In Friendship,
-Barbara

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator

UPDATE: Linked by Jeff Goldstein at Protein Wisdom — thanks! Meanwhile, in another gutsy move, four House Democrats voted “present” on a resolution commending U.S. intelligence agencies on the bin Laden takedown.

UPDATE II: Linked in Don Surber’s “Daily Scoreboard” — thanks!

Category: Aghanistan, California, Military, Pakistan, Terrorism

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