CNN

I agree with Officer Hoh. Its a sad day for America. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!!!

I agree that Mr. Hoh has a point in describing the apparently insurmountable difficulty facing the US to defeat a foe that is dispersed within the general populace. However, it is curious that he did not have such qualms when "killing some bad guys" in Iraq, in a war that had nothing to do with 9/11. He had the "best experience" there as a marine. Somehow those bad guys weren't "just fighting because we were there". I"m sorry but this "awakening" has the stench of political expediency.

This man only shows you that he is nothing but a whinning ex-junior officer who knows nothing about combat sand tactics. This I would bet is why he was ropered out of service when his time as Captain was up. People do not take someone of this nature as being seriously involved in knowing what the issues are. A Captain is only a leader of of a Company of men consisting of approximately 150 strong. He knows nothing of preparing war tactics. He only follows orders of his superiors or else he is kicked out of service as soon as his enlistment is up. No Major for him for being unworthy.

"Official resigns over 'cavalier, politically expedient' Afghan war" OR according to the popular conservative interpretation he wants to "Cut And Run" (just shorten to CAN). Or is the new Dick Cheney characterization, "Dithering And Afraid" (DAF) to be used now?

When you go to war, you wage he!! on the opposition. Remember Afghanistan is where the Taliban have always been. Remember 9/11 the idiots who flew planes into buildings. Osama Bin Ladin. Give them he!! with everything we have then get out.

Turn tale now, without destroying more of the Taliban, they will rebuild quickly and be back in the US for revenge.

Where's Obama's strategic plan he campaigned on?

Get in there, give them the support they need to get the job done and get out. Our soldiers do not need a bunch of weak freaks at their backs.

Obama's on the campaign trail making speeches and raising money for campaign while troops are giving their lives at the highest rate of the war. He can not make a decision but he can make a speech.
What is his problem? Is he waiting for his teleprompter to tell him what to say?

It's time someone spoke out honestly about our dubious war in Afghanistan. As an occupying power, we are hated by the Afghans. This is an incentive to greater terrorism and a recruiting tool for Al Qaeda. If it is Al Qaeda we are seeking, Mr. Hoh is right: They are in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, Pakistan, and God forbid, even here in the US. We are wasting enormous blood and treasure in what I think is a futile war. My country, I am sad to say, is stretched too thin. Read Andrew Bacevich's book, THE LIMITS OF POWER. When I served in the Army Air Force in World War II, I knew why I was fighting. Can our brave soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere say the same today?

"The dead return only in bodily form to be received by families who must be reassured their dead have sacrificed for a purpose worthy of futures lost, love vanished, and promised dreams unkept," he wrote.

"I have lost confidence such assurances can anymore be made. As such, I submit my resignation."

No depiction of the loss, and as he points out, the waste of human life and potential, has ever been stated more eloquently.

Wars should end when commanders in the field cannot justify the sacrifice of American lives.

No other reason need be given for bringing the troops home, now!

What exactly is it that you want?

I don't entirely understand either what the connection to those other countries is? Is there something underlying that you are trying to say?

I was a tweeny as the Vietnam war was coming to a close but I remember it well. My older brother was in college at the time. I agree with Mr. Hoh, finally someone who will publicly tell the truth. I believe it looks like another Vietnam.

"We are mortgaging our nation's economy on a war which, even with increased commitment, will remain a draw for years to come."
AMEN!

Didn't we learn from Korea and Vietnam? Either you go in with a total warfare mentality and unwavering resolve to win, without the political-correctness or playing nice baloney, or you shouldn't bother at all.

I think Obama will pull out troops, but increase Special forces ops, Buy the loyalty of the Warlords (the real leaders of that country) and Drone strikes.

If he pays the warlords enough, he may even convince them to let us build schools there.

Should of told that to Dick Cheney! It's a little "water under the bridge" now.

Afghanistan is reminiscent of the democratic run Vietnam war. Once again, our brave men and women do not have the suppor to fight a war costing only more american lives. WHY would anyone vote for a president who has no respect for the military commanders. He lost my vote when stating this much in the SC debate!

Lets get the Afghanistan surge going, win this war and then get out of there.

Something is being said when such a person resigns.... let's see what happens after election day.....

Hoh is a disgrace!

HOH MAKES A GOOD POINT, , , BUT HIS CHOICE TO LEAVE IS WRONG!

The reason our nation is still in Afghanistan 7-years after sweeping the Taliban and Al Queda out is because the "Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Rove" administration squandered the initial victory to redirect American resources, treasure, and lives into Iraq for WMDs that were never there. And while patriotic Americans were sacrificing their lives in Iraq, the Taliban was reconstituting them selves in Afghanistan as they learn new methods to fight Americans in an already complex geography of people, culture, religious fanatics, tribal war lords, and mountainous terrain.

What Hoh should be doing is channeling his energy to assist the Obama-Biden administration clean up the mess Bush-Cheney left behind and "appropriately" draw this war to a win-win solution for America and the innocent people of Afghanistan.

Obama has no clue.

Hoh knows what he is talking about. I agree with him. This war is stupid and unnecessary. Bring our troops home. Let McCain and his family go over there. They are for it. Send the Cheneys and the Bushes also.

This is what Colin Powell should have done in the beginning, and what anyone with conviction should do now to ensure our childrens' futures. Hats off to a man with courage and honesty. I fear for our nation that there are not enough like him to make a difference.

MMG

well do we want to get the people that caused 9/11 or dont we? if war is the way lets get it done. it its not then get those men and women out of there

Good for him. I wish more would do the same. Unless that is, you want more Americans to die.

I wonder why Mr. Hoh did not resign during the Bush Administration. Why now?? What is his real agenda?? When did Hoh start working as a State Department Official and what exactly were his duties?? The U.S. has been in Afghanistan for eight years and we have notthing to show for this effort after blood and treasure have been expended. Prehaps Hoh is planning to write a tell-all book and do the lecture circuit for cash and publicity. After all,Hoh calculated that he can cash out on a one year assignment and achieve money and fame which would be considerably more than any salary he received. I do not buy the idea that he just turned into a true antiwar dove. I suspect that he is an opportunist who is looking for fame and fortune.

And still Obama waffles on what to do; filling his days with fundraising, campaigning and rounds of golf. If he were in the military he'd be charged with dereliction of duty.

Sounds like a Hiroshima is in order to win this war. Either way, bring our troops home.
Bush and Cheney's war rages on while they bask in their riches and mansions and tv interviews. Send them over there until the war ends....they started it, now let them fight in it.

Hoh Said.........We are mortgaging our nation's economy on a war which........

Yes he is Correct.

Bush should be in Jail.

All Properties of Bush should be seized for paying compensation to the injured soldiers.

Hoh is right. Bring our troops home now.

The man is far more credible and eloquent than any keyboard cowboy that posts their ramblings here. He's right. We should:

A. Pull ALL our troops out
B. Nuke AfghaniPakistan

Fools and their freedoms are soon parted wrote

While he is out stumping...our military personnel are DYING and he is still smoozing with Hollywood and gutting our Constitution

Another stupid Rush Limbaugh listener.
Obama never wrote any thesis about gutting our constitution check your fact before listening any garbage from Rush.
We want our troop to come home, we want peace in the world and it is time to check at the airport without taking off our shoes.

Obama should be ashamed of himself! At least when Bush was president we knew what our mission was. This guy is gonna end up with the Irs invesigating him for questioning Comrade Obama

I agree that it is difficult if not impossible to serve a Commander in Chief who is more of a Commander of Campaign Politics (and Golf), and who dithers while brave men die because he feels the need to first install state-run insurance and run private insurance out of business...

Good for Hoh! Im glad someone is finally telling the truth about what really goes on! The Republicans had no plan going into it 7 years ago because the only way they can keep the Military Industial Complex in business, along with all of there private, military contractor buddies is to have endless wars with no "end game" in the plan! Military contractors and defense contractors are a BUSINESS and in order for them to stay in BUSINESS they need to have a DEMAND for their PRODUCT! It's just that simple people!!! I think people really need to wake up now!!!!!

Who would serve under the coward in chief. Let his wife take over she is the man of the house.

"He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor dampened, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue... In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns."
The Art of War Sun Tzu (c.500-320 B.C.)

There's more to be told from Mr. Hoh..I sure hope CNN follows up. Scary stuff.....again. There is a solution but it takes faith.

Its total insanity to keep pouring billions of dollars into the sands of the Middle East. Pull the troops out and use the money saved to give all Americans access to decent health care. Sorry , defence contractors.

Hoh is correct, we need to get out of Afganistan before we bankrupt ourselves. Our goals are ever-changing and there is no clear exit strategy.

Where was his voice during the lead-up and initial stages of the Iraq misadventure?

Well, doesn't he have a nice platform now to broadcast his message worldwide? I would expect as much from Al Jazeera, but CNN?

I don't suppose any of our young military men or women who understand what they are fighting for would get equal time. That doesn't sell so well, does it?

If Obama keeps dragging his feet regarding whether or not to send more troops we may have troops, over there already, going AWOL. Thanks to all you liberal doves who voted for this AWOL commander in chief.

I was disappointed to here this just seconds ago on the Situation Room. I understand that people may draw a parallel between Afghanistan and Vietnam, but each conflict is unique and should be treated separate from each other. I'm not trying to minimize how difficult the war is but we need to give our President as much time as he needs to decide on how many more troops will be deployed to Afghanistan. And I respect Hoh's decision but we need to pay close attention to our President's decision and see if his decision will bring stability to the war torn country.

This is an interesting situation.
President Obama has not made any changes to policies implemented by President bush...
From the beginning, "the dead return only in bodily form to be received by families who must be reassured their dead have sacrificed for a purpose worthy of futures lost."
So, my questions start with: What is different now from when the "war" was started?
Why did he take the job in the first place, did he not realize the nature and scope of the problems at hand?

And end with: Is it fair to assume that the biggest part of the "protest" is against President bush's policies and actions or that it is a political gambit by a "Right" wing operative, intended to undermine a supposed "Left" wing President?

I know Hoh will write a book but let's all pray he doesn't write it while our men and women are still fighting. We all know the U.S. should have never gone to war in the Middle East and there had never been any planning. God Bless our brave military.

Wow, our handpicked wars as of late have been politically calcuated and worst of all most of our politicians have never been in the military. Terrorism will be in its "last throes" thousands of years in the future...a paradox we have to live with..I respect this official for his outspoken courage while under fire....godspeed.

Mr. Hoh is, I believe, completely accurate in his assessment of our Afghan war. Look at the history of failure for foreign invaders of Afghanistan, read Clausewitz, look at the will of the Afghan people to resist the Taliban and secure democracy for themselves, their women and children. Not worth one more wounded G.I. – Maxx Goff, member, Special Forces Association.

He sound like the Army have to come to his aid again time.

How good could this guy have been at his job. We've been doing a bad job of fighting this war for over 7 years, and he just realized this.

pay heed