House Proceeding 03-10-10 on Mar 10th, 2010 :: 3:21:50 to 3:26:00
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3:21:47 to 3:22:08( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: yield three minutes to the asia pacific and global environment subcommittee, the delegate from american samo mr. eni faleomavaega. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, and the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. faleomavaega: i thank the distinguished gentleman of our committee on foreign affairs to

3:21:50 to 3:26:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Eni F. H. Faleomavaega

3:22:09 to 3:22:29( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: allow me to talk about the proposed legislation. despite our situation in afghanistan, i do say i have the utmost respect for the gentleman from ohio for bringing this resolution for purposes of public debate among our colleagues. i also want to say that i associate myself with the remarks made earlier by my

3:22:30 to 3:22:50( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: colleague from georgia, mr. kingston, in saying why not, why not debate the issue? this should be something that we should not deprive ourselves of the idea of understanding it more of the situation we're dealing with in afghanistan. madam speaker, after eight long years in that country for the

3:22:51 to 3:23:13( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: united states and 30 years of the afghan people, i remain skeptical that adding 30,000 u.s. troops and focusing more on local and provential governments will bring success in afghanistan. do i of course want our new strategy to succeed, and i know our military and civilian personnel on the ground will give it their supreme efforts.

3:23:14 to 3:23:35( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: they represent the very best of -- this country has to offer. yet, afghanistan's history is repeat with outside powers attempting to take over or remake the half began people. from alexander the great, to beginning is khan, even to the -- to genghis kahn, even to us.

3:23:36 to 3:23:58( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: by adding 30,000 additional troops to the 68,000 troops that we now have on the ground in afghanistan, we are adding approximately 100,000 additional troops with nato forces to go after some 27,000 taliban and a couple hundred al qaeda. by the way, i wanted toask, was it the taliban or al qaeda

3:23:59 to 3:24:21( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: people that attacked us on 9/11? i believe it was al qaeda. 15 of the 19 terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 was saudi arabs. interesting to note that. a number of things is indeed most objective obseers believe it will take a commitment years, perhaps even decades by our troops and hundreds of billions of dollars by our taxpayers for

3:24:22 to 3:24:43( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: afghanistan to overcome its divisions, to develop and maintain a functional government. when i weigh the likely cost of lives and resources against the potential benefit for u.s. security, i am left wondering whether we are in fact on the right track. here's something that i'm trying to figure out. i'm not a genius when it comes

3:24:44 to 3:25:04( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: to military strategy. the taliban are posthoustons. 12 million -- are posthuns. 12 million. and yet right on the border between pakistan and afghanistan, 27 million additional past unis also live

3:25:05 to 3:25:26( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: on -- pastuns live on the side of the bothered. is it any wonder why we have such a difficult time in locating osama bin laden because they've been going between pakistan and afghanistan for all these years? madam speaker, i do not believe invoking the 1973 war powers

3:25:27 to 3:25:47( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: act is appropriate at this time. september, 2009, they passed a resolution signed by the president four days later which granted the president authority to use all necessary force against those who committed the september 11 attacks in 2001.

3:25:48 to 3:26:00( Edit History Discussion )

Eni F. H. Faleomavaega: so whether one agrees with the war in afghanistan or not, whether one agrees with the administration's new strategy or not, there should be no doubt that concurrent