Afghan refugees

Regarding “Grieder: Houston should be ready to welcome Afghan refugees,” (Aug. 18): Watching the chaos at the Kabul airport is heartbreaking. Concerns about letting Afghan allies directly into

the U.S. means that hundreds, if not thousands, are stuck in Afghanistan due to State Department red tape in getting the necessary visas. Reports are saying that the U.S. is seeking a third country to take Afghans to be processed. Here's a thought: the U.S. has territories and military bases in locations to which we could evacuate these people for the necessary processing. Three immediately come to mind — Guantanamo (Cuba), Guam, and Diego Garcia (an island in the British Indian Ocean Territory with a U.S. military base).

We owe our loyalty to those who were loyal to us over the past 20 years. It will be a crime to abandon these people now.

Aletha Evert, Houston

I am glad we are pulling out of Afghanistan. The factions in that country have been killing each other for centuries. We cannot stop it. My only hope is that the U.S. does not abandon the people who helped our military in country. Leaving those people would be a terrible footnote to this country’s involvement in Afghanistan.

Rusty Knight, Missouri City

In reading your article this morning, I noticed there was no mention of the 5,000 to over 10,000 Americans stranded in Afghanistan who have been told to get to the airport in Kabul, through the Taliban gauntlet, without the guarantee of safe passage from the U.S. government. This is as the Taliban goes door to door looking for them. Our citizens come first and the refugees second. What a debacle created by our failure of a president.

Patti Miller, Houston