AFGHANISTAN: Where blame belongs

I am amazed and befuddled by the response to the withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan — the tragedy that has unfolded.

Yes, it is a tragedy and very heartbreaking. But almost as tragic and heartbreaking is the response by most of the talking heads and their “guests” on the news networks.

After 20 years, 2,500 U.S. lives lost, thousands more wounded, billions of dollars invested, 20 years of supplying state-of-the-art weapons and equipment and training to the Afghan military, 20 years of assisting and encouraging their fledgling democracy — the Afghans QUIT!

The military QUIT. The government QUIT. The president fled the country as the QUITTER in CHIEF.

As an American, I will not accept the inference that this tragedy is my fault of the fault of our president. Withdrawal should have been made many years ago and is absolutely the correct thing to do. The ensuing tragic circumstances are solely the responsibility of the Afghan president, government and military.

All Americans should encourage and support this Herculean lifesaving effort — focus on lives saved by this heroic mission.

JOHN MUSHLITZ

Hayden