Issue Position: Iraq and Afghanistan

Issue Position

Mike voted against the Congressional Resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq in October 2002; and he has remained an outspoken critic of that war. A link between Saddam Hussein and the attacks on September 11th was never established and weapons of mass destruction were never found. Mike was glad to see an end to our military mission there in 2011.

Mike continues to believe that we should have committed sufficient troops to complete the mission in Afghanistan instead of shifting focus to Iraq. He voted to authorize the use of force in Afghanistan in October 2001, after its Taliban rulers refused to act against those who attacked the United States -- al-Qaeda. He has traveled to Afghanistan, not only to talk with American generals and other high officials, but also to listen to officers and soldiers in the field and Afghan leaders at national and local levels. Mike is committed to bringing the troops home and supporting our military personnel when they return. He repeatedly weighed in with the administration to press for a speedier timeline for redeployment. Although not as quickly as he would have liked, that war is drawing to a close and troops are returning home.

Mike remains gravely concerned about the conduct and the prospects of our operations in Afghanistan, and about the future of neighboring Pakistan. It would pose a serious danger to world peace if Pakistan's nuclear arsenal fell into the hands of extremists or non-state actors with no regard for human life. But, just as he refused to give a blank check to President Bush, Mike has consistently voted against proposals to provide additional war funding without an adequate plan for bringing the conflict to an end. Mike recognizes that these problems are not simple. Stability must be sought through regional diplomacy, including India, China, and Russia. Moreover, he believes Congress must participate in the formation of effective foreign policy.

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