Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) issued this statement on H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009:


“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reluctantly support the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, H.R. 2346.

“A lot has changed since we last voted on supplemental spending bills for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American people have spoken and we have elected a new President who has promised to end the conflict in Iraq. The President ordered a full review of our military policy and announced a firm date for the removal of combat troops from Iraq – August 2010. It is not as early as I would have liked, but he has announced that the end is in sight and he will draw that conflict to a close. This bill is consistent with that plan to safely redeploy our troops out of Iraq.

“I am, however, deeply concerned about our plans for Afghanistan. Immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, I fully supported the initial war in Afghanistan. I support our efforts to destroy terrorist training camps and to pursue and defeat Al-Qaeda wherever it may be. I support providing the military equipment and support to our troops that they need to ensure their safety.

“I am more concerned, frankly, with the problem of mission creep. It is one thing to seek to ensure that Al-Qaeda cannot use sanctuaries in Afghanistan to plan attacks on the United States. It is quite another to seek to remake Afghanistan. I doubt very much that we will be able to eradicate their poppy crops, end corruption, and ensure equal rights for all in Afghanistan. Nor is it our job to remake Afghanistan.

“I am voting for this bill today, because it provides the funds for an orderly withdrawal from Iraq to an administration I trust to arrange such an orderly withdrawal as soon as possible. It also supplies funds for aid to Israel, for combating HIV/AIDS, for combating the swine flu, and for many other worthwhile projects. But I want to be clear. I will not support an open-ended long term commitment in Afghanistan. I am concerned that the goals may very well be too ambitious, too vague, and too costly – in lives and treasure – for our country. I will continue to monitor the situation closely, and I will oppose funding for unrealistic mission creep.

“I do not take these votes lightly, and these votes do not occur in a vacuum. As circumstances both on the ground and, quite frankly, within the United States government change, each vote for military funding must be considered on its own merits. At this point, with a new administration here in the United States and with the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan particularly dire, I have decided to vote in favor of the Supplemental Appropriations Act.”