January 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H85 

Iraq has an oil industry and a middle 

class. Afghanistan has neither. 

Iraq was a mission carried out by 

America and Britain, nearly alone, 

with few allies helping. Afghanistan is 

home to a NATO mission where a very 

large majority of the troops come from 

outside America. 

Finally, the insurgency in Iraq was 

sustained by dictatorships in Syria and 

Iran. In Afghanistan, the principal 

sustainment in income of the Taliban 

is now heroin, generating billions in 

profit. 

Our troops have accomplished a great 

deal already in Afghanistan. We destroyed al Qaeda’s training bases, and 

then deposed the Taliban dictatorship 

that protected them. We organized 

elections, and then protected a new 

democratically elected government 

under Hamid Karzai. 

b 1530 

These missions were no small feat in 

a country that has proven to be the 

graveyard of the Soviet military and 

that has seen no elections for three 

generations. 

Since 2006, the mission in Afghanistan has stalled as the Taliban has 

morphed into a new and deadly force. 

The tenets of Islam are generally antinarcotic. The Taliban first eradicated 

poppy and heroin production, but now 

has changed its practice. Once the 

Taliban no longer had easy access to 

bin Laden or to Saudi charity money, 

they went into the heroin business big 

time. Today, they are more accurately 

described as the narco-Taliban, backed 

by at least $500 million in annual drug 

profits. Some of Afghanistan’s wealthiest warlords are Taliban leaders who 

produce heroin to support jihad and 

terror against the elected Government 

of Afghanistan and of the nations of 

the West. 

The narco-Taliban are not evenly distributed across Afghanistan. They are 

concentrated in the heroin heartland of 

the Helmand River valley and in the 

nearby city of Kandahar. There is a 

growing misperception that the war in 

Afghanistan is fiercest near Pakistan’s 

border. While that may have been true 

last year, the key to fighting this year 

is along the heroin river of Helmand in 

southern Afghanistan. The Afghan 

Government and NATO are fighting 

pitched battles in the strategic rear of 

NATO where support and funding for 

the Taliban are actually the greatest. 

Our effort there has been expensive 

both in blood and in treasure. In my 

area, the U.S. has lost over 80 soldiers, 

but the Canadians have lost over 90 and 

the British over 110. I cannot emphasize enough the dedication and professionalism and commitment of our 

troops and especially of our NATO allies. 

I, personally, served with British 

Royal Marine Commandos, with Canadian troops, with Dutch armor officers 

and enlisted, with Danish armor officers and enlisted, and with Romanian 

infantry. Along with our service men 

and women from the Army, the Marines, the Air Force, and the Navy, I 

found these troops from the West to be 

young, idealistic and some of the most 

dedicated people I’ve ever served with. 

In short, I worked with heroes whom I 

admire a great deal. 

When I deployed to Afghanistan, I 

thought I might serve as a Fobbit. A 

‘‘Fobbit’’ is a person who works on a 

Forward Operating Base, or a FOB, who 

never leaves its border, who simply 

shuttles between the chow hall, the office, the gym, and the rack. Thanks to 

my command, I was not a Fobbit. I 

spent a great deal of my time outside 

the wire in Kandahar, in Geresk, in 

Lashkar Gah, and in Qalat. This experience gave me a much greater understanding of the opportunities that we 

share with NATO and with the Afghan 

Government. 

With all of this effort, we should ask 

the question: What is at stake in Afghanistan? Should we pull out? Should 

we stay put or should we double down? 

In my view, what is at stake is that 

the safety of American families is at 

risk especially if you live in the target 

cities of New York, Washington or Chicago. These are the cities most emphasized by al Qaeda and the Taliban. The 

dream of many Talib and foreign fighters is to depose the democratically 

elected government of Afghanistan and 

then move jihad back into the cities of 

Europe and the United States. 

Most of the NATO troops whom I met 

remember not just 9/11, which they 

watched on TV, but also the Madrid 

Metro attack, the London bus bombings, and the murder of intellectuals in 

Amsterdam. They believe as I do, 

which is the best way to face the Talib 

is in Afghanistan with Afghan allies 

who know how to fight them best. 

Should we keep the mission in Afghanistan as it is today? 

If we do that, we risk a bloody stalemate that would definitely protect the 

capital of the Afghan Government in 

Kabul but would surrender much of the 

territory of the country to the Talib. 

The Talib is also wearing our allies 

thin, especially in Canada and in the 

Netherlands, and it would strain our 

alliance. The Taliban now attacks 

young girls, who dare to go to school, 

with acid in their faces, and it has assassinated Afghanistan’s only female 

police officer because she was a 

woman. We know who they are. They 

are brutal dictators who want to set society back to the 13th century. 

As Americans, we cannot go back to 

the 13th century. Our culture and our 

country don’t even go back that far. 

Most Afghans support our values of reform, of rights for women, of the vote, 

and especially of modernity. But simply to protect their families, many in 

Afghanistan want to be with the winning side, and right now, many families 

in Afghanistan don’t know who the 

winning side will be—the Afghan Government and NATO or the Taliban. 

Should we double down? 

NATO allies clearly believe that we 

should double down, but they are waiting for a call from our new President. 

Our best allies—the U.K., Spain, 

France, and several other NATO countries—are already planning to add their 

troop commitment to Afghanistan. 

Other close allies of the United States, 

especially Canada and the Netherlands, 

need to be asked before making the 

painful decision for themselves to hang 

in there. Most expect that the U.S. will 

be part of a 60,000 troop commitment to 

Afghanistan, one-third being Americans, who will then move to attack the 

heroin production heartland that sustains the Taliban. If this happens, we 

can expect some tough days ahead. 

Hard fighting and casualties would 

ensue. The Taliban cannot survive 

without the heroin income that comes 

from this region. If we succeed, we will 

rip the financial engine out from the 

Taliban, securing a future for central 

Asia that does not include terror. 

In the end, we should ask this key 

question: What is our exit strategy? 

Currently, the Afghan police and 

army are much, much smaller than 

their counterparts in Iraq, a country 

that has an equal number of people. We 

need to double the size of Afghanistan’s 

police and army so that they can take 

this mission from NATO and so that we 

can wind up our own effort. It will take 

at least 2 or 3 years to accomplish this 

objective, which is why our NATO mission is needed now. 

I want to thank the men and women 

with whom I served. Our Dutch allies 

sent us General de Kruif, and our British allies sent us Brigadier General 

Hook of the Royal Marine Commandos, 

both of whom I served with closely. 

I also want to thank the men with 

whom I most closely worked: Majors 

Will Daniel and Fred Tanner of the 

U.S. Army. I also want to thank them 

for their dedication. I think about 

them here from the floor each and 

every day. 

I especially want to thank my boss, 

Brigadier General John Nicholson, of 

the U.S. Army. I count myself lucky 

that, at this later stage in my life, I 

have served briefly with such an inspirational leader. 

To the mothers and fathers of this 

country, I would say that, if your sons 

or daughters serve in southern Afghanistan, they will work under one of the 

most able military leaders whom I 

have ever met. 

As we leave Iraq, it is likely that Afghanistan will no longer be the forgotten war. Members of this House should 

take note that our troops have already 

accomplished a great deal there, but 

more remains to be done. 

For my part, I am honored to have 

served there, and I will be on this 

House floor the voice of the troops, of 

the Americans whom we have stationed 

in the land far above the Khyber Pass. 

I yield back the balance of my time. 

f 

SPECIAL ORDERS GRANTED 

By unanimous consent, permission to 

address the House, following the legislative program and any special orders 

heretofore entered, was granted to: 


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H86 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 8, 2009 

(The following Members (at the request of Ms. HIRONO) to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material:) 

Ms. WOOLSEY, for 5 minutes, today. 

Mr. DEFAZIO, for 5 minutes, today. 

Ms. KAPTUR, for 5 minutes, today. 

Mr. SHERMAN, for 5 minutes, today. 

(The following Members (at the request of Mr. WESTMORELAND) to revise 

and extend their remarks and include 

extraneous material:) 

Mr. WOLF, for 5 minutes, today. 

Mr. POE of Texas, for 5 minutes, January 15. 

Mr. JONES, for 5 minutes, January 15. 

Mr. GOHMERT, for 5 minutes, today. 

(The following Member (at his request) to revise and extend his remarks 

and include extraneous material:) 

Mr. BOOZMAN, for 5 minutes, today. 

ADJOURNMENT 

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I move 

that the House do now adjourn. 

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 3 o’clock and 40 minutes 

p.m.), under its previous order, the 

House adjourned until tomorrow, Frih 

day, January 9, 2009, at 9 a.m. 

EXPENDITURE REPORTS CONCERNING OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL 

Reports concerning the foreign currencies and U.S. dollars utilized for Speaker-Authorized Official Travel during the 

fourth quarter of 2008, pursuant to Public Law 95–384 are as follows: 

REPORT OF EXPENDITURES FOR OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL, DELEGATION TO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, EXPENDED BETWEEN NOV. 24 AND NOV. 27, 2008 

Name of Member or employee 

Date 

Country 

Per diem1 Transportation Other purposes Total 

Arrival Departure Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

............................................................................ ............. ................. ............................................................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... ....................

1 Per diem constitutes lodging and meals. 

2 If foreign currency is used, enter U.S. dollar equivalent; if U.S. currency is used, enter amount expended. 

REPORT OF EXPENDITURES FOR OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL, COMMITTEE ON RULES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, EXPENDED BETWEEN OCT. 1 AND DEC. 31, 2009 

Name of Member or employee 

Date 

Country 

Per diem1 Transportation Other purposes Total 

Arrival Departure Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

James McGovern ...................................................... 11 /8 11 /13 Ecuador ................................................. .................... 1,223.00 .................... 2,333.23 .................... .................... .................... 3,556.23 

Cynthia Buhl ............................................................ 11 /8 11 /13 Ecuador ................................................. .................... 1,223.00 .................... 2,333.23 .................... .................... .................... 3,556.23 

Committee total ......................................... ............. ................. ............................................................... .................... 2,446.00 .................... 4,666.46 .................... .................... .................... 7,112.46 

1 Per diem constitutes lodging and meals. 

2 If foreign currency is used, enter U.S. dollar equivalent; if U.S. currency is used, enter amount expended. 

LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER, Chairperson, Dec. 16, 2008. 

REPORT OF EXPENDITURES FOR OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL, DELEGATION TO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, EXPENDED BETWEEN NOV. 24 AND NOV. 27, 2008

Name of Member or employee 

Date 

Country 

Per diem1 Transportation Other purposes Total 

Arrival Departure Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Robert F. Reeves ..................................................... 11 /24 11 /27 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 Teri Morgan ............................................................. 11 /24 11 /27 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 Kyle Anderson .......................................................... 11 /24 11 /27 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 Karina Newton ......................................................... 11 /24 11 /27 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 

Catherine Cooke ...................................................... 11 /24 11 /30 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 

Jeff Gold .................................................................. 11 /24 11 /27 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 

Kirsten Gullickson .................................................... 11 /24 11 /30 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 

John Clocker ............................................................ 11 /24 11 /30 Belgium ................................................ .................... 514.07 .................... 7011.62 .................... 215.00 .................... 7740.69 

Committee total ......................................... ............. ................. ............................................................... .................... 4,112.56 .................... 56,092.96 .................... 1,720.00 .................... 61,925.52 

1 Per diem constitutes lodging and meals. 

2 If foreign currency is used, enter U.S. dollar equivalent; if U.S. currency is used, enter amount expended. 

ROBERT F. REEVES, Dec. 17, 2008. 

REPORT OF EXPENDITURES FOR OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL, NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FALL MEETING IN VALENCIA, SPAIN AND BILATERAL MEETINGS IN FLORENCE AND 

ROME, ITALY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, EXPENDED BETWEEN NOV. 10 AND NOV. 19, 2008. 

Name of Member or employee 

Date 

Country 

Per diem1 Transportation Other purposes Total 

Arrival Departure Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 2

Hon. John Tanner ..................................................... 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 11,728.80 

11 /14 11 /19 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,922.77 .................... 6,059.35 .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Melissa Bean .................................................. 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /18 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. John Boozman ................................................. 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /18 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Jo Ann Emerson .............................................. 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /18 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Baron Hill ........................................................ 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /19 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Carolyn McCarthy ............................................ 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /19 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Kendrick Meek ................................................. 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /19 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Charlie Melancon ............................................ 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /18 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Jeff Miller ........................................................ 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /18 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................

Hon. Dennis Moore .................................................. 11 /10 11 /14 Italy ....................................................... .................... 3,746.68 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... 5,252.86 

11 /14 11 /18 Spain .................................................... .................... 1,506.18 .................... (3) .................... .................... .................... ....................


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