The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Nathan White
(202)225-5871

Karzai Offers Further Proof of the Immediate Need to End the War

Congressman
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement about
Afghanistan President Karzai's admission that he receives "bags of cash"
from the Iranian government:

"The
Karzai regime is so corrupt; it doesn't even bother to try to hide it
anymore. It can't be voted out of office because the elections are
rigged. While Americans struggle to provide for their families, we
continue to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to prop up the arrogantly
corrupt regime. How bad does it have to get?

WASHINGTON

Congressman
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement about
Afghanistan President Karzai's admission that he receives "bags of cash"
from the Iranian government:

"The
Karzai regime is so corrupt; it doesn't even bother to try to hide it
anymore. It can't be voted out of office because the elections are
rigged. While Americans struggle to provide for their families, we
continue to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to prop up the arrogantly
corrupt regime. How bad does it have to get?

"We know that the Karzai regime in Kabul is among the most corrupt in the world. We know that President Karzai rules through crony capitalism. We know that our tax dollars are going to the Karzai family and supporters to buy villas in Dubai. We know that Karzai has worked to protect his cronies. We know that the war's advocates manipulate public relations to manufacture support for the war. We know that our tax dollars fund both sides of the conflict. We know that our 'allies' pay the enemy not to attack our troops. We know that our 'allies' may be bribing insurgents to attack our troops, and we know U.S. tax dollars fund Afghan warlords.
"We know that the War in Afghanistan is longer than any other war America has ever fought. We know that the war has cost U.S. taxpayers more than a trillion dollars. We know that the death toll is rising. We know that more than 1300 Americans have died, thousands more wounded and countless Afghan civilians have died. We know that the civilian death toll is rising, and we know there are fewer than 100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan," said Kucinich.
"What
more do we need to know? What part of "Get Out" does the
Administration not understand? Our presence in Afghanistan is
indefensible. Our soldiers should not have to put their lives on the
line for this," added Kucinich.
Kucinich,
who has led opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the House
of Representatives, has previously introduced privileged resolutions
forcing floor votes on ending the war in Afghanistan and removing our
forces from Pakistan.

Dennis Kucinich is an American politician. A U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1997 to 2013, he was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008.