Cleaver: It is time for the Afghan government to stand independently

As part of his weekly EC from DC newsletter, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. says it is time to start nation building in the U. S. and not in Afghanistan.

I am pleased that we will begin to bring our troops home from Afghanistan next month and I applaud President Obama for taking a positive first step towards a responsible ending of the war. All of us are grateful for the sacrifices our troops have made over the past ten years and for the sacrifices they continue to make. I look forward to their safe return home.


We recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to ensure that the region remains stable. Their stability should not be at the expense of thousands of American lives and billions of dollars. It is time for the Afghan government to stand independently.

It is also time for us to focus on our nation’s greatest asset as President Obama mentioned; our people. It is time that we focus on nation building at home.