A plea to end the War in Afghanistan

How long should we as a nation continue to sacrifice blood and treasure for what is clearly a losing proposition?

 The War in Afghanistan has been going on for over 10 years now.  Think about that for a minute...Think of what has happened in 10 years... Shows that were in the top 20 of TV ratings included such darlings as 'Becker', 'Inside Schwartz', and 'Judging Amy'.  Smart phones were phones with caller IDs.  I could go on and on, but remember, everyday over the past 10 years we have been at war with a country, and no one can really tell us why.  There is no end in sight.  There is no truce.  It's a war that can not be won and was never declared an official war by Congress.  Instead, we just keep wasting BILLION$ on 'promoting democracy' and 'freeing the people', yet in the process, create more enemies.

There are still about 67,000 U.S. soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines deployed in Afghanistan, alongside 37,000 military personnel from other coalition member nations. The White House has said it intends to keep thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan more or less indefinitely, both to help train Afghan forces and to carry out counter-terrorism operations, long after NATO's mission in Afghanistan formally concludes at the end of 2014.

67,000 of our fellow Americans are putting their lives at risk, for what?

About five years ago, I read a book by an Islamic scholar, Rory Stewart, who decided he'd become the first tourist to walk across a post-Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Relying on his wits, knowledge of Muslim customs and the kindnesses of strangers, Stewart trekked for a month from village to village. His "The Places in Between" proved a remarkable travelogue, if for no other reason than it underscored just how primitive and disconnected much of Afghanistan really is. Loyalties rarely extend beyond the village, the tribe and Allah. Given those realities, the idea of instilling in the Afghan people anything resembling American-style, flag-waving, defend-the-homeland nationalism is almost laughable. It would be laughable were it not for the fact that more than 2,000 brave Americans have died trying to change things. How many more have to die before enough is enough?

I need to read this book!  Or rather, I need our Government 'Leaders' to read this book!

I don't want him to go back to Afghanistan. I don't want anyone's son or daughter to have to go back. It's no longer worth it.

This sums it up.

Please read David Freed's entire letter here.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless.
Countryboy