Begin an orderly troop withdrawal
Recent media reports from Afghanistan indicate six years after the first U.S. bombs fell in Afghanistan, America is planning on a long stay.
We now have approximately 25,000 troops in the country and other NATO nations contribute another 25,000 more. This is three times the international troops in Afghanistan when the Taliban appeared to be defeated.
The Islamic military has roared back and 2007 has been the bloodiest year yet.
It appears the Russian attempt and failure in its 10-year war with Afghanistan did not teach us much. An Afghan ambush in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan that killed six more GIs and brings the total of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan to 101 thus far in 2007. This compares with 93 in 2005 and 87 in 2006.
Compare this with the 850 deaths in Iraq this year. Our president's continued requests for new funding for the war continues and one wonders when people's voices will be heard in Congress and in the White House now that the statistics of success are not adding up.
Let's start the withdrawal of our troops in an organized manner for duty in our own country.
O.C. Bud Grey
Arlington Heights