{"id":69713,"date":"2018-10-07T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-10-07T10:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/07\/lawmaker-its-time-to-end-the-war-in-afghanistan\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:55:07","slug":"lawmaker-its-time-to-end-the-war-in-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/10\/07\/lawmaker-its-time-to-end-the-war-in-afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmaker: It\u2019s time to end the war in Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 To mark the 17th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan<\/a>, Rep. Ruben Gallego<\/a> wants to finally end the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gallego, D-Ariz. and a Marine Corps veteran who served in combat in Iraq, has been a vocal critic of the \u201cperpetual war\u201d in the recent years. In a statement this weekend, he said military and political leaders need to find a way to put a stop to America\u2019s longest military fight<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear that continuing on the current course is not in our national interest,\u201d he said. \u201cAmerican troops should come home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur objectives following (the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks) were to destroy al-Qaida, kill Osama bin Laden, and prevent a recurrence of an ungoverned space in Afghanistan that allowed for terrorists to plot and plan attacks on Americans and our allies. We accomplished all of those objectives years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t