Stats show troops not wise, necessary

Gen. David Petraeus is waging war on two fronts: One in Afghanistan, and one in the media. He's trying to persuade us that we're in Afghanistan to protect civilians. The facts say something else entirely. The Wikileaks documents show that U.S. forces have repeatedly hidden civilian casualties from public attention. Last week, a U.N. report found civilian casualties rose 31 percent for the first six months of this year over last year, and last year was a record. How can we say in good conscience that our soldiers protect anyone? The presence of 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan is neither wise nor necessary. We should begin the troop withdrawal today and negotiate with all major parties in Afghanistan to achieve a lasting peace. Only then can Afghans begin the long process of reconciliation and repair after so many decades of war.

Roger Hannah

Round Lake Beach