Mark Small

Abernathy was only 1 who did not call 4 immediate troop withdrawal. ‘You got to complete the task, you got to do the job ... We need to remain committed to the Middle East.’ WFYI, 12/07/19. 4/24

1) I have yet 2 read stmt of specific U.S. task/goal in Afghanistan since forces arrived there in 2001 to force the Taliban out of power and deny Al Qaeda a place to train terrorists. 5/24

When Mr Abernathy says you “got to complete the task ... do the job” he implies there is some end result for our presence there - after nearly 20 years. 6/24

2) Mr Abernathy doesnt understand a geographical problem. Afghanistan’s mountains impede conventional military approaches, sure, but Mr Abernathy needs to understand: AFGHANISTAN IS NOT PART OF THE MIDDLE EAST. 7/24

If Mr Abernathy believes we “need to remain committed to the Middle East,” it would be good if he knew what countries comprise Middle East. Otherwise he might expand our forces far beyond that area of the World. 8/24

3) No surprise - Mr. Abernathy on NATIONAL DEFENSE says First priority of federal gov’t is to ensure safety/security of our citizens Must ensure well-trained & well-equipped military but make responsible choices in how we spend defense $ 9/24

Mr Abernathy fails 2 understand: our oversized military engaged constantly makes us less secure. Our undeclared wars have killed many Example: we created security threat fr Iran in early 1950s when we helped overthrow its elected govt 10/24

Constitution: Congress has power to declare war. Const. Art. I, sec. 8. We only should use military force after a declaration of war. We’d kill fewer people, have fewer of our own people killed, and be more secure. 11/24