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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Nathan White
(202)225-5871

Military Presence in Afghanistan is Counterproductive

WASHINGTON

Congressman
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who has been a leading advocate against the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, today made the following statement after
the Washington Post and other media outlets reported that the Pentagon
has authorized the deployment of an additional 13,000 troops to
Afghanistan to primarily serve in a support capacity:
"It
is not simply combat troops that present a problem, but our entire
military presence is counterproductive to our security. Sending
additional military personnel indicates that we are deepening our
military involvement in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan
is a nation of independent tribes that is rife with corruption. Nation
building cannot come from the barrel of a gun. Instead the United
States should work with Afghanistan's neighbors to help provide
regional security to allow the Afghan people to rebuild their nation.
It is time that Congress takes control of this war by eliminating its
funding and bringing our troops home."

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.