To require a plan for the expedited transition of responsibility for military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan.

SA 1256. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Lee, and Mr. paul) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1867, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; as follows:

On page 484, strike lines 8 through 24 and insert the following:

(8) During the course of Operation Enduring Freedom, members of the Armed forces, intelligence personnel, and the diplomatic corps have skillfully achieved the core goal of the United States strategy in Afghanistan, and Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta has noted that al Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan has been greatly diminished.

(9) On May 1, 2011, in support of the goal to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, President Obama authorized a United States operation that killed Osama bin Laden, leader of al Qaeda. While the impact of his death on al Qaeda remains to be seen, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called the death of bin Laden a “game changer” in a speech on May 6, 2011.

(10) Over the past ten years, the mission of the United States has evolved to include a prolonged nation-building effort in Afghanistan, including the creation of a strong central government, a national police force and army, and effective civic institutions.

(11) Such nation-building efforts in Afghanistan are undermined by corruption, high illiteracy, and a historic aversion to a strong central government in that country.

(12) The continued concentration of United States and NATO military forces in one region, when terrorist forces are located in many parts of the world, is not an efficient use of resources.

(13) The battle against terrorism is best served by using United States troops and resources in a counterterrorism strategy against terrorist forces wherever they may locate and train.

(14) The United States Government will continue to support the development of Afghanistan with a strong diplomatic and counterterrorism presence in the region.

(b) Benchmarks Required.--The President shall establish, and may update from time to time, a comprehensive set of benchmarks to evaluate progress being made toward the objective of transitioning and transferring lead security responsibilities in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan by December 31, 2014.

(c) Transition Plan.--The President shall devise a plan based on inputs from military commanders, the diplomatic missions in the region, and appropriate members of the Cabinet, along with the consultation of Congress, for expediting the drawdown of United States combat troops in Afghanistan and accelerating the transfer of security authority to Afghan authorities.

(d) Submittal to Congress.--The President shall include the most current set of benchmarks established pursuant to subsection (b) and the plan pursuant to subsection (c) with each report on progress