Letter to the editor: Plenty of blame for Afghanistan

In reference to the article “Milley: Afghan war a failure” (Sept. 29): Of course, the war in Afghanistan was a failure; the military and the American people would not know what Afghanistan would look like if the war was a success.

Regardless, Republicans refuse to recognize this and instead are trying to scapegoat President Biden for his leadership during eight months of a 20-year war, which included ending it. Traumatized by 9/11, Americans gave a “free war” pass to George W. Bush and his cohorts (few of whom served in the military).

Every U.S. military action in the region has resulted in the exact opposite of what was intended. Dead military, dead civilians, dead children, destabilized nations, lost treasure and weapons in enemy hands are and have always been the consequences of war, win or lose.

Biden is not to blame for the “failure,” but there is plenty of blame to go around, including most Americans and nearly all representatives in the House and Senate. Authorization for a Bush-led “open-ended war” in the House was 420-1. The Senate vote was 98-0. Biden is to blame only in the capacity of his misguided Senate vote.

Americans need to let the government and politicians know that they will not support any invasion against a nation that is not a direct threat to America, and/or a war that lacks clear conditions for victory and an exit strategy. Maybe this time we will learn, and anti-war positions won’t just be for pacifists in the future.

Tom Spallone

Hempfield