First U.S. Official Resigns Over Afghan War
I know the SWJ blog mention this today, but I thought it was worth talking about.
State Dept. diplomat, former Marine, resigns in protest of the war in Afghanistan.
FULL STORY
Quote:
WASHINGTON -- A former Marine who fought in Iraq, joined the State Department after leaving the military and was a diplomat in a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan has become the first U.S. official to resign in protest of the Afghan war, the Washington Post reported early Tuesday.
Matthew Hoh, who describes himself as "not some peacenik, pot-smoking hippie who wants everyone to be in love," said he believes the war is simply fueling the insurgency.
"I have lost understanding of and confidence in the strategic purposes of the United States' presence in Afghanistan," Hoh wrote in his resignation letter, dated Sept. 10 but published early Tuesday. "I have doubts and reservations about our current strategy and planned future strategy, but my resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing this war, but why and to what end."
Hoh's resignation letter
Doubt this will become an epidemic...but interesting.
My concern is where are Winken
Resigned on 10 September...
...funny how long some things take to "make the papers".
Not a prob, just wanted to make the broader point
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve the Planner
Apologies for inaccuracies. The only things I know about Afghanistan is from the UN Habitat Reports, and stuff I get open net.
that the figures -- as also you note -- are imprecise but that, regardless, Afghanistan is primarily a rural Nation to the hilt -- it poses different parameters in many senses than anyplace we've operated since the Indian wars in our own west -- and not even I am old enough to recall that...:cool:
It's also very xenophobic and very mountainous -- real mountains. the corridors and compartments mess up many things...
Quote:
Schmedlap's got it right as to purpose and content.
"I find the assertions that he made to be of little interest. I'm more interested in knowing who had this letter released and why. This appears to be little more than a PR stunt in the ongoing back and forth between folks who want different courses of action."
True.
Quote:
Fingers crossed for the right one.
Also true... :wry: