One of President Donald Trump's close allies in the Senate is calling on the administration to officially end the war in Afghanistan and bring home American troops stationed there.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., joined Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., to introduce the 2019 American Forces Going Home After Noble (AFGHAN) Service Act. The two lawmakers are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and would like to see an end to America's longest war, which began in October 2001.
"Endless war weakens our national security, robs this and future generations through skyrocketing debt, and creates more enemies to threaten us," Paul said.
"For over 17 years, our soldiers have gone above and beyond what has been asked of them in Afghanistan. It is time to declare the victory we achieved long ago, bring them home, and put America's needs first."
Said Udall: "Soon, U.S. service members will begin deploying to Afghanistan to fight in a war that began before they were born. As we face this watershed moment, it's past time to change our approach to the longest war in our country's history.
"This bipartisan resolution would bring our troops home at long last, while implementing a framework for reconciliation."
The bill would declare American victory in Afghanistan, set parameters for a U.S. withdrawal, and would hand out bonuses to every American soldier who has served in Afghanistan.
Trump said in December he was ordering a full withdrawal from Syria, an order he later amended to leave a small force of soldiers in the war-torn country. The Syria exit prompted Defense Secretary James Mattis to resign.
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