End the Afghan war sooner than later

Sunday, Oct. 7 marks the 11th anniversary of the beginning of our war in Afghanistan. It is the longest war in U.S. history, as unsuccessful and non-defensive as all the rest since World War II. We have spent over half a trillion dollars, hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians and 2,000 U.S. troops have died, and scores of thousands wounded.

More than two-thirds of U.S. citizens do not believe that this war is worth fighting and want it over much sooner than the end of 2014, the announced withdrawal date. In March of this year, our Congressman Adam Schiff described the war as “a price too high to bear, too improbable of achieving its goals.”

Clint Eastwood spoke for many of us across the political spectrum, and with perfect clarity, when he asked the infamous empty chair representing President Obama about our troops in Afghanistan: “Why don’t you just bring them home tomorrow morning?”

Roberta Medford
Montrose