Cicilline Responds To Gates—Focus Should Be on Domestic Concerns

Cicilline Responds To Gates—Focus Should Be on Domestic Concerns

U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) yesterday criticized Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ announcement that the U.S. military could remain in Afghanistan after 2014.

In his response, Cicilline expressed his concern over continued funding for foreign engagements in the face of mounting domestic concerns.

“We should no longer be sending billions of American taxpayer dollars to the Afghan people for their schools, their hospitals, their roads, bridges and police, at the expense of making those same investments in our own country,” Cicilline said.

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Cicilline cited the looming cuts to education, health care, infrastructure, and security programs—emphasizing that this was no time to continue spending $5 billion per month in Afghanistan. The statement concluded with an earnest plea for greater focus on pressing domestic concerns:

“It is time to reassess U.S. involvement in Afghanistan so that we can focus on rebuilding our economy and making sure Americans can compete in the 21st Century. Because if we are to compete, we must invest in our own success, and that investment begins at home.”