WALTER B. JONES DISTRICT OFFICE:

3n Dis; um: I. CAROLINA 1105?6 Conrorm'rr. UHIVE:
GHEENVILLE. NC 27858

(252} 931-4003
Room 2333

Qtnitgrtaa at the 

TEI {2?02} 225 3415

39mm of Representatives

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
2051545303
July 18, 2017

President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Avenue, NW
Washington, DC. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Many of us in the U.S. House of Representatives believe we have been denied our sacred duty to debate
and declare war. You could say that I am disappointed by this. Disappointed because after 16 years in
Afghanistan, Congress deserves another vote on this con?ict. Disappointed because almost $1 trillion of
taxpayers? money has been spent with no direct goal or strategy. And most importantly, I am disappointed
because we continue to lose American lives.

Sir, I am writing today because you seem to have had a change of heart on this issue:

1. In August of201 1, you agreed with Ron Paul and said the U.S. was ?wasting lives and money in Iraq
and Afghanistan.?

2. In 2012, you referred to Afghanistan as a ?complete waste,? and declared it was ?time to come home.?

3. The next year, you said on Twitter, ?Do not allow our very stupid leaders to sign a deal that keeps us
in Afghanistan through 2024?with all costs by U.S.A. . 

4. You also tweeted that year, ?Let?s get out of Afghanistan. Our troops are being killed by the
Afghanis we train and we waste billions there. Nonsense! Rebuild the 

Mr. President, I agree with those remarks, and so does the 31St Commandant of Marines Corps, my friend,
and unofficial adviser, General Chuck Krulak. As he said in a recent email to me, ONE has ever
conquered many have tried. We willjoin the list of Nations that have tried and failed.?

Mr. President, that is why 1 am asking you to review this thinking before approving any troop level
increases from General Mattis. I believe you would see great bene?t and wisdom in asking Congress to debate
and vote on troop level increases as well. You would then have the American people and their elected officials
share a decision to send more of our sons and daughters into harm?s way. Once you come to a consensus, I
suggest you publicly go before the American people and U.S. military to explain the benchmarks you choose
for Afghanistan. Previous administrations have not been able to clarify those endpoints, which is unfair to
taxpayers and our troops. In the end, we all share this responsibility, and it is time that not only Congress but
also the American people have a say. Sixteen years is enough!

Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires! We do not want a tombstone to read ?United States of America.?
Respectfully,

Ww.am%

Walter B. Jones
Member of Congress