So Gen. James Mattis resigned, and then President Donald Trump speeded his departure. The general strongly disagreed as to the wisdom of bringing troops home. It was commendable for him to resign under those circumstances.
But wait. Trump had campaigned on that very issue. He had said he would bring the troops home. And he was elected. The folks had had enough of a 17-year, fruitless war. The folks had seen too many caskets come home, too many veterans with a missing arm or leg or badly burned face, too many with post-traumatic stress disorder. Perhaps the general has not visited the military hospitals enough times.
And, finally, perhaps Gen. Mattis has not contemplated the fact that the United States is more than $21 trillion in debt – much of which has come from military spending.
Trump is right. It’s time for the troops to come home. We can no longer afford to be the world’s policeman.
HARVEY LORD
Bow