House Armed Services Committee Must Read Eikenberry's Warning

The New York Times recently published the full text of U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry's memo to President Obama detailing his deep reservations about sending more troops to Afghanistan. The White House ignored his warnings and sent troops anyway.

With the House Armed Services Committee set to begin the 2011 Defense Department budget process on Wednesday, it's essential that its members read Eikenberry's warnings about the dangers of deepening U.S. military involvement in the Afghanistan war.

Sign our act.ly petition to the House Armed Services Committee:

petition @HASCDemocrats @HASCRepublicans to read the Eikenberry cables. http://act.ly/1oe RT to sign #actly

After President Obama announced a troop surge despite Eikenberry's warnings, The New York Times reported that:

Without offering details, Mr. Eikenberry has said in public hearings since then that his concerns have been dealt with, and that he supported the White House's troop increase plan. But it is not clear what might have changed about his assessment...

The Eikenberry documents spell out in detail why a military strategy in Afghanistan is the wrong approach. HASC members should write strong language into the 2011 Defense budget that requires the Pentagon to begin withdrawing our troops by July 2011. Sign the petition today.

Next steps: Join our Twitter vigil against the Afghanistan war!

Cross-posted at Rethink Afghanistan.