Q&A on Afghanistan war with U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.

Q&A on Afghanistan war with U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.
Written by Kathleen Wells | Philadelphia Tribune

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-CA, gained international acclaim for being the only member in Congress who courageously and extraordinarily voted against the authorization of the use of force following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Her vote against the resolution expressed her belief that it amounted to giving then-President George W. Bush a blank check to wage war and that the resolution was in contravention to the Constitution. Consistently, Lee has been a vocal critic to the war in Iraq.

Lee recently authored a controversial bill that would prohibit the funding for additional troops to Afghanistan.

Recently, The Philadelphia Tribune spoke with Lee about her bill.

Tribune: What was your motivation for introducing a bill to stop funding for the troops in Afghanistan?

Lee: The public, at least 50 percent of the public, wants us to get out of Afghanistan. I think it’s time we begin to look in a new direction, in terms of our military and foreign policy, as it relates to Afghanistan. I don’t agree that the proposed increase in troop levels will make America any safer, nor will it make the Taliban more pro-American.

I think it’s important to recognize that the British and the Soviets couldn’t win in Afghanistan, militarily. And by increasing the troop levels, at least U.S. forces, you are really hardening the Taliban and creating the opposite effect — creating conditions that are going to be more dangerous and create more violence. I think it’s time to begin to look in a totally new direction.

I wanted to make sure that in Congress, there is a debate right now. And I’m very pleased that the president is taking his time, being deliberative, talking to people and he asks the question, “Are we pursuing the right strategy in Afghanistan?” And some of us don’t believe he is, or at least we don’t believe the strategy is right.

Tribune: How should I sum up your motivation? Is it to promote an exit strategy or a new strategy?

Lee: I have also signed onto Congressman [Jim] McGovern’s resolution to develop an exit strategy. That resolution was an amendment that came to the floor [and] got 138 votes. So, I believe both: one, we need an exit strategy to begin to come out [and] two, we don’t need an increase in troop level.

If you believe you need an exit strategy, you shouldn’t bring more troops into Afghanistan. We need to look at a better strategy that involves more focus on Pakistan, more focus on the eradication of the poppy seeds, helping the farmers and looking at alternative agricultural development. A more development strategy [and] a more diplomatic strategy, in the region, I think are very important.

This is the time that the military-first strategy is just not going to work. Read more.