Heinrich Pushes for Afghan Pullout

WASHINGTON — Rep. Martin Heinrich wrote President Barack Obama on Thursday urging him to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan this summer.

“We have spent over $450 billion in Afghanistan since the start of this war,” said Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat. “Our youngest soldiers now serving in some of the most dangerous places on earth were just 8 years old when our nation was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. It’s time we start bringing our troops home.”

In late 2009, Obama announced that the United States would begin to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in July 2011, but some military observers have questioned the White House’s commitment to that goal. Heinrich urged Obama to make good on the July deadline in his letter.

“I believe we should follow through on the pledge we made to the American people. … I also request that the reduction of forces not be limited to support forces such as logistics specialists but also include combat troops,” Heinrich wrote.

Heinrich has announced that he is seeking the Democratic nomination in 2012 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Jeff Bingaman, who isn’t running for re-election. Heinrich supported Obama’s call for 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan in December 2009.

Heinrich said the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan “has helped disrupt the insurgency, build the Afghan National Security Forces, and protect the Afghan people.”

“However, challenges remain that no amount of American blood or treasure will completely solve,” wrote Heinrich, who traveled to Afghanistan to visit troops and military leaders in May 2010.

— This article appeared on page A8 of the Albuquerque Journal