Calls for getting out of Afghanistan grow after bin Laden's death

United States military troops watch breaking news on the announcement by President Barack Obama that Osama bin Laden had been killed, at the USO at Kandahar Airfield, southern Afghanistan, May 2, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Kevin Frayer

A growing number of liberals, including activists and members of Congress, are calling on President Obama to significantly draw down troops in Afghanistan, now that al Qaeda lead Osama bin Laden has been killed.

A handful of progressive House members sent a letter to Mr. Obama today urging him 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."

The administration has already committed to bringing home some American troops this July -- there are currently about 100,000 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan -- but it's unclear at this point how significant that reduction will be. Immediately following the news on Sunday that bin Laden was killed, opponents of the war declared that the development "ended the rationale for the continuation of a 10-year war."

Today's letter -- signed by Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Michael Honda (D-Calif.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) -- commended Mr. Obama for acting "decisively" to kill bin Laden and calling for national and global solidarity.

"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 letter said.

The letter noted that the death of Osama bin Laden certainly does not an end to al Qaeda, but it said counter-terrorism policies must be "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," it said.

The liberal grassroots network MoveOn.org is also mobilizing its members to sign a petition to Mr. Obama, asking him to keep his commitment to an accelerated troop drawdown in July.

"It's already started--hawks in the media and military saying that the killing of Osama bin Laden is proof that the war in Afghanistan is working and that we should redouble our efforts," the group wrote in an email to its supporters today. "Even though bin Laden was captured in another country entirely. Even though the operation was executed by a small, specialized force and not the continued occupation of a nation by over 100,000 of our soldiers. Even though the man we ostensibly invaded Afghanistan to capture is no longer a threat."

A CBS News/ New York Times poll released today showed that 64 percent of Americans say the death of bin Laden does not complete the mission in Afghanistan. Still, 48 percent said they would reduce troops levels there now, up nine points since late last year. Forty percent said they would keep troop levels the same.

[reluctantzealot]

Can we also stop bombing civilians in Pakistan now?

[jwrht]

We need to leave Afghanistan by the end of this year 2011 absolutley. Our purpose was to get OBL and al Qaeda and since OBL is dead and al Qaeda is everywhere but Afghanistan and we are in a debit crisis because of these 9/11 wars to get those who committed those atrocities, the purpose therefore has been fulfilled. The American people will not tolerate or finance wars for nation building to suit our so called "Democracy's Freedom" purpose. I think with our budget crisis and faultering economy, we need to stick to units like the navy seals rather than costly armies with tons of costly equipment to take out al Qaeda in the parts of the world where they thrive. It only makes sense to use our resources in a cost effective manner. The navy seals and intel did what we wanted and got the job done for trillions less than all our other troops (god bless them all). We need to cut our military and our military spending in half - we will still have the largest military in the world.

[msimamaji]

Let's set the record straight. It's not the liberals that want us out of Afghanistan. It's Karzai - who happens to be the President of Afghanistan. We have no business in a country where we are NOT wanted or welcome. It's time to say good-by.

[msimamaji]

Just last week, both the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan wanted American troops to leave. They talked about a security partnership with the Chinese.
That's a great idea. Let the Chinese fight the Taliban, not the US. Remember all those scary Chinese commercials the Tea Party ran? All the folks who are afraid of the Chinese century should be jumping for joy.
Remember, Afghanistan is the graveyard of Empires. I'd rather see the Chinese wind up in that graveyard than the US.

[reluctantzealot]

China is not that stupid...

[simpleconservative]

Cut and run liberals are engaged in the same old song and dance. Afghanistan is not near any level of sustainability on an independent basis. Our presence will be required for some time to come if we do not want things to degenerate back to the starting point and face greater and greater threats to our safety!

[jwrht]

Name called is what children do. Our presence is not wanted nor is it in our interests to care how this country wants to govern itself after we leave. It is their country and they can do as they please. We the American people are no longer willing to tax our citizens to create puppet governments in the ME or anywhere anymore. Enough - it always backfires and we are too broke to continue such a ignorant agenda anyway. No more policing the world.

[simpleconservative]

jwrht, name calling is quite different from accurately describing actions of a political group. As to our interests you obviously have a juvenile perspective and do not comprehend what is at stake!

[slatep]

Why wait until July.?

Even Karzai stated he would like to see American troops withdrawn from Afghanistan since BinLaden was found and killed in another country.

He also added that the Taliban were Afghanis too and he thinks they should just learn to get along with them.

For almost ten years Karzai has been willing to take bags of money from any country that was willing to give it to him; especially Iran; a country that is a sworn enemy of the United States.

There is even evidence he was giving money to the Taliban.

It boggles my mind that the US government is continuing to send more money to duplicitous countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan.

We are paying these countries for our own destruction and sacrificing American troops to traitors who pat us on the back with one hand and stab us in the back with the other.

With "allies: like these, we don't need any enemies.!!

[lucifersshadow]

The stupidity is starting a full-fledged war, sending troops over there for 10 years when all it takes is a SEAL team to take the fool out. Isn't any wonder our country is broke, any time there is a problem, it is throw money and troops at it. I suppose they want to keep sending our tax dollars to Pakistan too. . . .

[pasha128]

From the early reports of intel gathered it appears Bin Laden was still active in the organization. Judging from this rest of your questions, john, it appears nothing anyone presented could satisfy you.

[reluctantzealot]

Not too active, he didn't even have internet or a phone. And the head of the counter terrorism said that Osama held no useful information concerning the terrorist organization. So, good thing he's dead, but sounds like a neutered old man to me.

[pasha128]

Gee, reports I hear indicate those two phone numbers sewn into his clothes are garnering a great deal of interest alone. Then there is an encrypted hard drive; sounds like you are rather premature to be downgrading the value of that piece of hardware at this time.

[john5673]

Did we kill Bin Laden inhumanely? Just like his goons were and will? Are we any different than Ladens? Did we violate any human rights laws? Did we commit any crimes against humanity? Can Obama also be charged for such crimes? Did the latest Osama was really a threat to any one? Can we even imagine that this filthy person around filthy mess was running the greatest terrorist Empire or he was marginalized long ago and hundreds of new Bin Ladens are either giving orders or carrying out his mission? Hope, Obama can answer all these questions in his 60 minutes program if at all he wants to prove that he is not a BUSH-CHENEY war mongering and gun shooting President. I am sure he WILL.