IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 911 

Expressing the sense of the House that the United States should increase 

United States forces in Afghanistan and responsibly redeploy forces from 

Iraq. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 19, 2007 

Mr. SMITH of Washington (for himself and Mr. SKELTON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period 

to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House that the United States 

should increase United States forces in Afghanistan and 

responsibly redeploy forces from Iraq. 

Whereas the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, were perpetrated by al Qaeda, whose 

top leadership operated out of a safe haven in Afghanistan; 

Whereas despite the end of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001, a persistent insurgency supported by the 

Taliban and al Qaeda has continued to threaten the security and stability of Afghanistan; 


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•HRES 911 IH 

Whereas the security and stabilization of Afghanistan is in 

the vital national security interests of the United States 

in order to prevent the return of a safe haven for al 

Qaeda and the Taliban; 

Whereas the July 2007 United States National Intelligence 

Estimate concluded that ‘‘Al-Qa’ida is and will remain 

the most serious terrorist threat to the Homeland’’ and 

that ‘‘the group has protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including a safe 

haven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal 

Areas (‘FATA’),’’ located along the border with Afghanistan; 

Whereas the United Nations Half-Year Review of the Security Situation in Afghanistan found the country is suffering its most violent year since 2001; and in the first 

eight months of 2007, suicide bombings alone increased 

69 percent over the same period last year; 

Whereas despite tactical achievements in combating the renewed insurgency in Afghanistan in 2007, the Taliban 

has reportedly been able to expand its geographical presence in the country, and its command structure remains 

mostly intact and is believed to be working with Al Qaeda 

leaders; 

Whereas in late 2007, an assessment by the President’s National Security Council reportedly concluded that the 

United States’ strategic goals for the security and stabilization of Afghanistan for 2007 have not been met; 

Whereas since the attacks on the United States of September 

11, 2001, the United States Government has spent less 

than 28 cents on Department of Defense activities in Afghanistan and in other Operation Enduring Freedom 


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•HRES 911 IH 

countries for every dollar spent on similar activities in 

Iraq; 

Whereas since the attacks on the United States of September 

11, 2001, the United States Government has spent less 

than 31 cents on foreign aid and diplomatic operations 

activities in Afghanistan and in other Operation Enduring Freedom countries for every dollar spent on similar 

activities in Iraq; 

Whereas as of December 1, 2007, the United States maintained approximately 25,000 troops in Afghanistan and 

over 160,000 troops in Iraq; 

Whereas as of November 14, 2007, the United States Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan 

(‘‘CSTC–A’’) reported shortfalls of 2,410 required United 

States personnel to train and mentor the Afghan National Security Forces; 

Whereas as of December 8, 2007, the NATO International 

Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (‘‘NATO– 

ISAF’’) reported significant force shortfalls, including the 

need for 3 additional maneuver battalions for NATO– 

ISAF missions, 25 Operational Mentor and Liaison 

Teams to train the Afghan National Army, and 2 Provincial Reconstruction Teams; 

Whereas the ability of the United States to devote adequate 

levels of troops, funding, and other resources to the security and stability mission in Afghanistan is constrained 

by United States commitments to Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on December 11, 2007, Admiral Michael Mullen, 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated, ‘‘Our main 


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focus, militarily, in the region and in the world right now 

is rightly and firmly in Iraq. It is simply a matter of resources, of capacity. In Afghanistan, we do what we can. 

In Iraq, we do what we must’’; 

Whereas in 2007, the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James T. Conaway, advocated for a 

redeployment of United States Marines from Iraq to Afghanistan, and the United States Special Operations 

Command advocated for a more active role for its forces 

in Afghanistan; 

Whereas the United States Congress and the congressionallycommissioned Iraq Study Group have declared support 

for a responsible redeployment of United States forces in 

Iraq and a narrowing of the mission of United States 

forces to targeted counterterrorism activities, training 

and equipping Iraqi security forces, and protection of 

United States citizens and facilities; 

Whereas the President anticipates maintaining at least 

130,000 United States troops in Iraq through July 2008, 

roughly the same number as in December 2006; and 

Whereas the President has not announced any significant increases in United States force levels in Afghanistan: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the United States 

2 House of Representatives that— 

3 (1) the United States, in concert with its inter4 national partners, should strengthen its overall long5 term commitment to securing and stabilizing Af6 ghanistan and contribute the necessary levels of ecoVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:11 Dec 21, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR911.IH HR911

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•HRES 911 IH 

1 nomic, civilian, and military resources to achieve 

2 that end; 

3 (2) the United States, in concert with its inter4 national partners, should increase its military force 

5 levels in Afghanistan to a level sufficient to signifi6 cantly improve security and stability in the country, 

7 prevent the return of a save haven for al Qaeda and 

8 the Taliban, and enhance the ability of the Afghan 

9 National Security Forces to maintain long-term se10 curity and stability; and 

11 (3) in order to provide for sufficient forces in 

12 Afghanistan, and for other critical reasons, the 

13 United States should responsibly redeploy those mili14 tary forces in Iraq not essential for targeted 

15 counterterrorism activities, training and equipping 

16 Iraqi security forces, or protection of United States 

17 citizens and facilities. 

Æ 


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