Letter to President Obama

Letter

Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs, Representatives Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and CPC Peace & Security Task Force Co-Chairs Michael Honda (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA)and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), sent a letter to President Obama today renewing their call for a significant and sizeable reduction in U.S. troops in Afghanistan following the recent death of Osama bin Laden.

The Members noted how bin Laden's recent death not only provided comfort to families of "the victims of his unconscionable attacks on innocent life" but also provided an opportunity to end U.S. involvement in America's longest war. The letter also cites the growing bipartisan consensus to ensure that the scheduled July reduction in troops "meet the expectations of Congress (and) the American people."

Last March, these Members joined a bipartisan group of 76 House colleagues to call on the President to request that the July reduction in U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan be significant and sizable and executed in an orderly fashion. Recent New York Times/CBS polling shows that almost 50% of respondents believe that bin Laden's death should lead to a reduction in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.

Key Excerpts of the Letter:

"In the wake of Osama Bin Laden's death, now is the time to shift toward the swift, safe, and responsible withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors from Afghanistan."

"This bipartisan message stressed the urgency of creating economic opportunities here at home and said that the redeployment of only a minimal number of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July would not meet the expectations of Congress or the American people."

"…We are hopeful that Osama Bin Laden's death will offer comfort to the families of the victims of unconscionable attacks on innocent life that have occurred throughout the world and on 9/11."

"It is our hope that you can similarly unify the nation by bringing our troops home and ending America's longest war in history-- a position supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people."

"Ending the war in Afghanistan is a critical step toward refocusing U.S. resources and security assets to serve that vital purpose."

Dear Mr. President,

In the wake of Osama Bin Laden's death, now is the time to shift toward the swift, safe, and responsible withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors from Afghanistan. We, the undersigned Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), strongly urge you to announce plans for a near-term and significant drawdown of U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan beginning no later than July of this year.

On March 16, 2011, 81 Members of Congress sent you a letter asserting that the forthcoming reduction in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan must be significant and sizeable, and executed in an orderly fashion. This bipartisan message stressed the urgency of creating economic opportunities here at home and said that the redeployment of only a minimal number of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July would not meet the expectations of Congress or the American people.

Mr. President, we are hopeful that Osama Bin Laden's death will offer comfort to the families of the victims of unconscionable attacks on innocent life that have occurred throughout the world and on 9/11. You acted decisively in your efforts to capture the mastermind behind those tragic events and we commend your calls for national and global solidarity as we acknowledge the world is safer for his absence.

It is our hope that you can similarly unify the nation by bringing our troops home and ending America's longest war in history-- a position supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people.

The death of Osama Bin Laden certainly does not represent an end to Al-Qaeda. As we seek a future free of the threat of global terrorism, we must work to implement smart security policies that are both effective and sustainable. Ending the war in Afghanistan is a critical step toward refocusing U.S. resources and security assets to serve that vital purpose.