We shouldn't engage in wars we won't finish

I just finished reading the book "Seal Team Six" and realized that like Vietnam and countless other wars in the Middle East, our politicians involve our troops and then back out without finishing the job.

In the meantime, the assets who assist our soldiers, putting themselves and their families at great risk, are left to once again survive under a regime they never wanted in the first place and hoped to get rid of. So, in the end, what good did our being there do but give those people false hope of getting their lives back to the normal?

How does that make them feel about America? Why do we continue doing that to them? It's easy for the politicians to change their minds midstream but devastating to the people who thought their lives would change for the good only to wind up right back where they were before the Americans came, and possibly worse.

And what about the soldiers who think they're there doing a good thing, often with loss of lives, only to have to walk away from a job unfinished.

We need to stay out of these "wars" unless we intend on finishing them. If you feel differently I suggest you start reading books like this one written by the men and women who are sent to help others only to have to leave without finishing the job because suddenly the politicians sitting in Washington decide it's time to leave.

Many times I have wondered why we are always getting involved when we don't really understand the cultures of some of countries we are "helping" but once we do get involved I feel we should honor our commitment and not leave until the job is finished or don't get involved in the first place.

Janet Lumm

Schaumburg