I am disappointed by our President’s speech last night. 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan will have a devastating effect. The increase of the troop levels will mean more casualties on the battlefield of our young men and women who are there in harm's way and their beloved families who bear the burden of fear and grief.

The casualties will not only be those who are killed in action, but those who suffer the worst injuries—the wounds that eventually lead to suicide. We are achieving nothing by sending 30,000 more troops. Economically we are in a precarious situation, and this surge will mean an additional $30 billion dollars. To me this is absolutely insane. How is this in keeping with the Nobel Peace Prize?

My prayers are always with our President. Watching him speak tonight did not inspire me regarding his qualifications as Commander-in-Chief. It saddened me to see the faces of our young men and women who are part of this deployment. In the end, it is nothing else but what we experienced during the last 8 years. There must be a better way to respond to terrorism. What our President offered is definitely not the answer. We will just make more enemies and sow seeds for the next conflict.  I urge other religious leaders of our nation to join me in this call to end the war in Afghanistan.

 

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Your Turn. Tell us what you thought about this article:

Responses

Is it a loss or is it a win ? Every life that is lost on a battle-field to me is a loss ! Dear Lord, be with them and let all their sins be forgiven.

Kees Scheepens
Best
Netherlands

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Greetings, I too am dismayed that the president of the US is sending more young Americans to uncertain futures and for why?
I lived through the Vietnam experience where my country Australia as now sent our youth to fight a war that cannot be won. Afghanistan should be isolated to such an extent that there is no international trade with it, it should be shunned to such an extent that unless there is a reasonable change of government it will remain in isolation until there is.
Our youth is far too precious to waste on a country governed by infidels.

David Bendel
Queensland
Australia

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Not only will our families bear burdens of fear and grief but so will Afghan families. They are the ones living daily in the midst of conflict, threat and destroyed infrastructure. I want to see an end to the war but I don't think removing troops is an answer either. It only means that North Americans won't be killed. Many Afghans will still suffer (as they do now). We need to somehow facilitate a change from within, an Afghan solution.

There are no easy answers with what to do in Afghanistan, one only needs to consider Somalia to see that more troops and fewer troops will have terrible consequences.

Much prayer is needed; for peace, for safety, for leaders and for a quick resolution!

Stephen Ahlberg
Alberta, Canada