Over 13 Million People Push Congress for Afghanistan Exit Strategy

27 organizations and coalitions representing over 13 million Americans
sent a letter this week to the Senate and House asking for cosponsors
to legislation that would require the Obama administration to provide
Congress an exit strategy from Afghanistan. Senator Russ Feingold
(D-WI), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)
introduced the bipartisan legislation, S. 3197 in the Senate and H.R.
5015, a few weeks ago.

"Americans are increasingly opposing the cost in blood and treasure of
the war in Afghanistan. Like Iraq, it's time for the Obama
administration to provide an exit strategy with an end date for the
United States military presence in Afghanistan. Congress needs to
exercise its oversight responsibilities and require a plan and a
deadline for troops to come home from Afghanistan. Peace Action thinks
that plan should have troops home as soon as practically possible and
resources focused on the political solution and Afghan-led aid and
development," stated Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action's policy and
political director, who organized the letter to Congress.

The legislation in the House has picked up momentum with 86 cosponsors
including chairs of important committees and such as Reps. Conyers,
Delahunt and Filner. The legislation states that "not later than
January 1, 2011, or 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
whichever is earlier, the President shall submit to Congress a plan for
the safe, orderly, and expeditious redeployment of United States Armed
Forces from Afghanistan, including military and security-related
contractors, together with a timetable for the completion of that
redeployment and information regarding variables that could alter that
timetable."

The groups that signed the congressional letter represents veterans,
military families, religious congregations, unions, academics, doctors
and voters from influential organizations such as MoveOn.org, USAction
and the National Organization for Women.

Besides the timetable for redeployment of troops from Afghanistan, the
legislation would require the Inspector General of the Department of
Defense and the Inspector General of the Department of State to "issue
recommendations on measures to increase oversight of contractors
engaged in activities relating to Afghanistan that have a record of
engaging in waste, fraud, or abuse..."

The legislation could be offered as an amendment to various upcoming,
must-pass legislation including the supplemental package that includes
$33 Billion for the Obama administration's surge in Afghanistan and may
be voted on as early as next week.