A New Afghan Approach — Or the Same Old Mistakes?
Ralph Peters has finally condemned a military operation by the United States — namely, a new surge of troops into Afghanistan after being at war for 16 years (“Fighting for a Fantasy in Afghanistan,” PostOpinion, Aug. 22).
Maybe the solar eclipse had a sobering effect on all of us.
We can only pray Peters’ new-found rationality will inculcate morality within the GOP’s military-industrial complex. Patrick O’Connor New Rochelle
While I understand and share many of Peters’ frustrations about how operations in Afghanistan were conducted over the past two administrations, I perceive several significant differences in President Trump’s agenda:
No. 1: Rules of engagement are being loosened and money won’t be spent on nation-building.
No. 2: Trump will be seeking to get India more involved and, simultaneously, serve notice on Pakistan that it could become isolated if it doesn’t play ball.
No. 3: The United States will be participating in economic development in Afghanistan to help defray the cost of this war. This is a hidden gem. Afghanistan is wealthy with untapped natural resources, including large lithium deposits.
We’ll have to see whether this marks a real departure in strategy or just p.r. for the same old, same old. Bruce Hall Lake Orion, Mich.
If Trump plans on sending more troops to Afghanistan, hopefully he’ll send some auditors with them.
We need to have a better idea why the United States is still spending an estimated $37 billion a year to support 8,400 troops in Afghanistan.
While waste is usually part of foreign opera- tions, this takes overspending to a new level without anything to show for it. Brad Brooks Manhattan
While I am happy to see Trump moving away from nation-building, I wonder how sending in 4,000 extra troops, bringing the total to 12,400, will accomplish what 100,000 troops couldn’t in 2010.
The president has clearly started listening to his generals — now that Steve Bannon is gone.
But will this new plan push Afghanistan and its regional neighbors into becoming more responsible for the sake of their own futures, or is it just another pipe dream? Sal Giarratani Boston, Mass.
Trump’s speech on Afghanistan was a breath of fresh air to all of us who have been frustrated with our 16-year War on Terror.
Finally, we have a commander-in-chief who will support our troops and give them carte blanche to take down the enemy. Jack Kaufman Long Beach