Matthew Hoh's Letter Indicating Afghan War is Immoral

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7846433/US-general...

November 11, 2009, President Obama stated, "I've been asking not only General McChrystal, but all of our commanders who are familiar with the situation, as well as our civilian folks on the ground, a lot of questions, I want to make sure that we have tested all the assumptions we're making before we send young men and women into harm's way." He stated this as he rejected the 4 proposals the military had provided for the war in Afghanistan.
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AP reporters wrote: It's also notable that while this deliberation has evolved, a president just 10 months on the job has gotten a much more direct look at the human cost of war, which has undoubtedly affected his thinking.

At Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, he greeted the remains of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

At Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, he saw troops grievously injured in war.

At Fort Hood in Texas, he consoled the families of soldiers shot dead, allegedly by one of their own.

Before his Fort Hood trip this week, Obama said the visit "absolutely has an impact because it reminds me of the costs involved. It reminds me that these aren't abstractions."

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Brother of Afghan Leader Is Said to Be on C.I.A. Payroll
By DEXTER FILKINS, MARK MAZZETTI and JAMES RISEN
Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of President Hamid Karzai
and a suspected player in the opium trade, has gotten
payments from the C.I.A. for eight years, American
officials said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/asia/28intel.html?th&emc=th

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[KeybdFlyer]

Many thanks for posting this reading of Mr.Hoh's resignation letter, which I otherwise would probably have never heard or read. What struck me above all was his obvious sense of outrage at the duties he had been expected to carry-out, given the circumstances he saw all around him. Several truths which the previous administration went to great pains to conceal were touched upon - would that he could expound upon them further. Your rendition of the letter, btw, was exemplary.

[AfriSynergy]

Thank you for your comment. Mr. Hoh has since, been on various tv news programs to stress his thoughts about the situation in Afghanistan.

You're correct, the Bush Administration would have suppressed this quite well. It did take a month before his letter was made public, indicating there was debate going on within the Obama Administration about it.

[oceanbound222]

Matthew Hoh is an honorable and brave man who I salute  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AfriSynergy]

Most Americans would agree with you.

[Imperiused]

And I am one of those. I'm going to print this resignation letter out, and see what I can do to convince those friends and family who are still on the fence. Mr. Hoh's letter is a powerful indictment of American foreign policy tradition, and he deserves to be heard. And thank you for taking the time to read.

[AfriSynergy]

Thank you for sharing it with others.

[grahamwellington]

Mel Gibson is right about all the wars in the world!

[kokosam1959]

all the best Mr Hoh U ARE right why we are in this this wars ... its all about islael

take care

[mizzoulibertarian]

I wish Mr. Hoh was a senator. He is intelligent patriot who puts the interest of America FIRST! Where is Charles Lindbergh when we need him?

[nasem89]

those pictures are sad

i bet bush had to barf after seeing his handy work, i dont know how a person can live like that--bush, not the crispy dude

[AfriSynergy]

Yes, I agree but it's more difficult to undo this mess.