McGovern Introduces Bill with Afghanistan Exit Strategy

(D-3rd)  introduced new, bipartisan legislation on Friday to require the Obama Administration to present an exit strategy for U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

According to a press release issued by McGovern's office, the bill (The “Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act”) would:

1. Require the President to transmit to Congress a plan with timeframe and completion date on the transition of U.S. military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan;

2. Require the President to report quarterly (i.e. every 90 days) on the status of that transition, and the human and financial costs of remaining in Afghanistan, including increased deficit and public debt; and

3. Included in those quarterly reports, the President must disclose to Congress the savings in 5-year, 10-year and 20-year time periods were the U.S. to accelerate redeployment and conclude the transition of all U.S. military and security operations to Afghanistan within 180 days (i.e. 6 months).

“As we all saw on Sunday, the men and women of our armed forces and intelligence community are incredible people," he said. "The killing of Osama bin Laden is a welcome development that makes the world a better, safer place."

He believes, along with the Bill's co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), that now is the time to develop an exit strategy.

“I believe we must use this opportunity to re-examine our policy and to require the Administration to tell us exactly how and when we will end our massive troop presence in Afghanistan," he said.

McGovern concluded by saying that this war is the longest in our nation's history with no end in sight, costing many lives and an unbearable cost.

“On Monday, the Pentagon reported that 1,550 American troops have died in Afghanistan. Last week, another one of my constituents was killed," he said. "Tens of thousands more have been wounded. Our soldiers and their families are the only ones being asked to sacrifice. The rest of us are asked to do nothing. Enough is enough."

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