Woolsey Urges Vigilant Opposition To War
U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has been the most consistent voice in the House of Representatives against war. Even as anti-war activism has withered in the grassroots left, Woolsey persists in speaking for the course of action that she believes to be right – a withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan, and a rededication of the USA to peace.
Representative Woolsey was the first member of Congress to introduce resolution attempting to force the removal of the U.S. military from Iraq. Now, 88 weeks after George W. Bush mistakenly declared “mission accomplished” in Iraq, Woolsey has noted the end of official U.S. combat missions in Iraq, but warns that Obama must stay the course in removing American soldiers from Afghanistan as well. Woolsey comments,
“We are still a Nation at war. The conflict in Afghanistan, often forgotten when Iraq was at its worst, lingers on hopelessly and disastrously. There are some who believe more time is needed in Afghanistan to turn the corner. But if we’ve learned one lesson from Iraq, it’s that prolonging the war only emboldens the very forces we’re trying to defeat.
Just as President Obama kept his word to end combat operations by a date certain in Iraq, he must do the same in Afghanistan. I strongly urge the President to stick to his own deadline of next July.”
