I think an apology from President Obama for the burning of the Koran was an appropriate response,
but one apology was enough.
However, the fact that the President did not demand a reciprocal apology from Karzai for the killing
of two of our soldiers over an incident that, in America--where the burning of our national flag and
displaying a crucifix in a jar of urine is a protected right of free expression--demonstrates a lack of
courage on his part, and a naive understanding of his role as the President of the the most powerful
nation on earth and leader of the free world.
We should not have gone to war in Afghanistan, or Iraq--certainly not with the unrealistic intention
of democratizing a nation steeped in ancient traditions, and a religion that can tolerate none other
before it. Nevertheless, we are out of Iraq, and we should now expedite the removal of all our troops
in Afghanistan. Whatever peace agreement we make with the Taliban will be torn up as soon as we
leave. It would not matter if we stayed there another ten years, or one hundred years, nothing will
change in that country until the Afghan people themselves have the will to make it happen--as did
the people of Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt, and as the brave people of Syria are now struggling to
achieve as we watch their blood spill onto the streets.
Vito Tomasino
RSS Feed
