Time's Up

U.S. Reassessing Afghan War Strategy

After bin Laden's death.

U.S. lawmakers are re-examining their options in Afghanistan, as the death of Osama bin Laden has caused many to question the reaso for staying in the nearly decade-old war. “Make no mistake, it is fundamentally unsustainable to continue spending $10 billion a month on a massive military operation with no end in sight,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While Kerry and co-chairman Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) said they oppose a precipitous withdrawal, a debate is under way in Congress about whether it is worth it to continue fighting a war to root out terrorism, led by a now-dead mastermind. Military officials have argued the U.S. should continue its current strategy in Afghanistan. The House Armed Services Committee will take up a defense authorization bill that affirms that the U.S. is fighting “al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces,” language written on Sept. 14, 2001.