Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- We are in the midst of the deadliest stretch of combat in the ten-years of America's involvement in Afghanistan. The loss in one month of more than a hundred troops has rekindled the debate over why we are there, and how much longer we should remain.
Some argue for immediate withdrawal. Others support plans for a gradual drawdown of troops, in hope the objectives of the mission will be met. The problem is the murkiness of those very objectives, and the difficulty of validating actual progress.
We entered the country because the ruling Taliban created an environment for extremism which had posed direct threats to American security. We also entered because we believed political stability in the area would serve long- term U.S. interests.
But political instability is part of the culture of the region like radioactivity is part of uranium ore. Stability is relative, and there is no guarantee the imposition of consensus governance will last indefinitely. Also, it is not likely we will ever eradicate all breeding grounds for extremism, but there are measures of success in that arena, notably a deeply weakened Al Qaeda.
Though, the price has been steep. Six of those killed this summer were from Utah. The scenes of their return home are too familiar. A flag-covered coffin, the exquisite pain -- and pride -- of loved ones; a military burial following a solemn church service.
The services are of different denominations, but there is a profound commonality -- expressions of unwavering faith, and a fierce commitment to duty.
Those services often end in prayer, that those who have offered their country the ultimate sacrifice have not done so in vain. In essence, they are prayers that our political and military leaders may have the same fierce commitment to duty, and the wisdom to plot a withdrawal from Afghanistan that is both timely, and tenable.
Email: cpsarras@ksl.com
