Congress urged to reallocate $6 billion earmarked for Afghan army as humanitarian aid

A coalition of anti-war activists has launched a petition urging members of Congress to reallocate the roughly $6 billion currently earmarked for the Afghan military as much-needed humanitarian assistance in order “to help save Afghan lives.”

“The numbers include almost $3 billion unspent from fiscal years 2020 and 2021, and $3.3 billion requested by the Pentagon to train and equip the Afghan army, air force and national police in 2022” Politico reported this week.

Lawmakers have already begun jockeying to find a new home for the funding now that the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan amidst an ill-planned and chaotic American withdrawal from the country.

Congress will likely use some of the funding to reinforce the so-called counterterrorism operations in the region, which military officials have warned will be effected without a military presence in Afghanistan.

UN warns about 'catastrophic' humanitarian situation in Afghanistan

The United Nations warns that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation is

‘An outrage’

In response, Win Without War, a diverse network of activists and organizations working for a more peaceful US foreign policy, is imploring lawmakers to spend the money to help ease the suffering of Afghans, whose lives have been upended by two decades of US war and occupation.

"In a moment of immense need for the people of Afghanistan, some in Congress intend to divert billions of dollars originally intended for the now-defunct Afghan security forces to wage more endless war abroad," said Kate Kizer, policy director at Win Without War. "This is an outrage."

"We owe the people of Afghanistan an immeasurable debt," Kizer continued. "Every last dollar of the $6 billion must be used to help save Afghan lives, not to boost Pentagon contractor profits."

US military institutions have vested interest in ongoing wars, says American historian

An American historian believes US military institutions have vested interest in ongoing US wars around the world.

"Redirecting these $6 billion to finance evacuations, refugee resettlement, and much-needed humanitarian assistance, for example, could spell the difference between life and death for countless Afghans," she said.

Congressman Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alaska and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee told Politico that “a whole lot of people have been looking at that money now.”

Rogers said he expected that he and Rep. Adam Smith, the committee's Democratic chair, will agree on spending the previously approved and proposed funding for the Afghan military on “counterterrorism efforts.”

Stephen Miles, executive director at Win Without War, tweeted this week that if members of Congress “spend one dime of that $6 billion on ANYTHING other than helping the Afghan people, saving lives, and meeting dual need[s] of refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid they should be beyond ashamed of themselves.”

The Pentagon has already indicated that it plans to conduct "over-the-horizon" operations in Afghanistan, a concept some members of Congress have criticized as impractical.

Early on Saturday, the US military carried out the first such attack on Afghan soil since the Afghan government and army collapsed on August 15.

US Central Command said a drone strike in Nangahar province had taken out a Daesh member, who was suspected of being involved in planning the Thursday bombing at the Kabul airport that killed scores of people including at least 13 US servicemen.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk