Question of the week: In light of recent tensions, should the U.S. military accelerate its timeline for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
Louise Ledesma: “Yes, we need to get out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. We need to protect our soldiers who are there but we cannot change their mindset. They probably will never stop terrorist activities or become a democracy.”
Richard Place: “We should have learned from Auckland’s Folly. The British were defeated in their war from 1839 to 1842. They said no one could conquer Afghanistan and they’ve defeated everyone that’s tried including Russia.”
Richard Herrera: “No. We should continue to work with Afghanistan and our NATO allies on our current timeline.”
Marty Richman: “My September 2010 column said, ‘Bring the troops home’ because it was ‘morally unacceptable for our political leaders to refuse to ask for sacrifices from their own constituencies while some of the troops are on their third or fourth tours.’ What’s changed?”
Jim West: “Trite as it is, we still need to ‘know when to fold them.’”
Ruth Erickson: “We went to Afghanistan to kill Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks and the mission was accomplished. The longer we stay there, the more troops and confidence will likely be lost in the Middle East. The U.S. shouldn’t try to impose democracy on a country divided by many tribes, who don’t want to change their beliefs to fit our way of life. With tensions heightened by recent events, an unstable government and Afghanistan President Karzai wanting the U.S. to leave, we should!”
