We join you in mourning the loss of about 15 troops based in North Carolina who died last month in Afghanistan (editorial, July 23). We are told we can feel extra pride in their service. We view them as our own sons and daughters.
Our feelings of deep sorrow are related to feelings of tremendous outrage with our political system. For what have these young people been sacrificed? Were they merely pawns in a war that should never have occurred? Would it not have been possible for our intelligence forces to hunt down and bring to justice the perpetrators of 9/11? What are the true reasons for American arrogance, aggression and the belief that we have the moral right to take "democracy" to other nations, wasting their blood and ours? Is it the desire for a pipeline across Afghanistan? Is it its mineral wealth? The truth will eventually surface.
Why is it so difficult for the leaders of our democracy to hear our tears, our grief and our demand that we immediately stop the loss of our blood and treasure? When a majority of Americans do not support both of our wars, how do we bring true democracy to the USA?
