What are the conditions to continue this war?

Americans have questions and want answers to why we are there. No longer is it the stronghold for al Qaida, as it has moved on leaving Afghanistan in a civil war. Will funding the current surge be the answer like it was in Iraq? If so, when can we plan to disengage? America has focused many human and monetary resources to this eight year war and people ask: "Is this focus itself a threat to our nation’s well being?" John Lingenfelder, as your Congressman, will work with fellow Congressmen to determine the questions and what answers are needed.

What are the conditions to continue funding this war?

The following conditions must be met to continue funding this war.

• Our military mission must focus on containing Taliban extremists and destroying the remaining al Qaeda leadership. It must avoid being drawn into the ongoing civil war.
• The administration must establish a flexible timetable for military disengagement from the Afghanistan Theater. It must demonstrate that a credible Afghan army has been built and can control the civil war upon the U.S. military stand-down.
• The current corruption in the Afghan government must cease and be verifiable.
• The existing opium trade must be replaced with viable and legal rural development.
• A strong focus on encouraging Afghan entrepreneurship must accelerate. When the U.S. military increases its reliance on local suppliers for everyday purchases, this will foster an expanding market based economy.
• Our Department of State must continue the diplomatic and regional approach to strengthen our Pakistani ally. It must continue its work to leave the Afghan people with a viable, popular central government.