Afghan Elections Should Herald Return of American Troops After a Decade of War
Washington DC – April 4, 2014 – Press Release – Tomorrow, Afghans will go to the polls to replace President Hamid Karzai in what many hope will be the first of many free, safe and democratic elections in Afghanistan.
“As Afghans head to the polls, we hope that democracy will prevail over fear and violence. However, we are reminded that while Afghanistan is still a fledgling democracy, the issues in Afghanistan can only be solved by Afghans taking the reins of their country’s future,” said John Isaacs, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “Our men and women in uniform have completed their duty and it’s time to bring them home. The problems that remain in Afghanistan have no military solution.”
A major issue playing in this election is the continued status of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and the bilateral security agreement. President Karzai has refused to sign any agreement leaving it to the next Afghan President to either sign the document or re-negotiate it.
“Regardless of the status U.S. force would have in Afghanistan, the United States has done what it can in Afghanistan. After thousands of lives and billions of dollars, it’s time to end a decade of war and bring our troops home,” said Isaacs.
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The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a Washington-based non-profit think tank working to reduce the number of nuclear weapons stockpiled across the globe, increase international nonproliferation programs targeted at preventing the further proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism, redirect U.S. military spending to address 21st century security threats and halt the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons. www.armscontrolcenter.org
