Big surprise....the US government breaking promises. While I feel for the Afghans, I feel more the Americans the died in Iraq. A war based on lies by war criminals. I feel more for the Iraqi people who had their relatively stable country destroyed by the Americans. And, then there's the Veterans that went to war - many now disabled & with PTSD....lives destroyed for no good reason. And, yes..we've managed to make Afghanistan worse off. Broken promises....America's march to war is littered with them. And yet, nobody is accountable.
4
So...in the 15 years since the war in Afghanistan began, just 9000 Visas would have been issued by the end of this year with a further 10,000 Afghans still in need of Visas but Congress has already voted and passed a bill that as part of its provisions discontinues the program that provides the visas they need.
Moreover, whilst waiting for their promised visas, some of these people have been killed for having helped America during the war whilst others have had family members killed for the same reason.
All of them and their families as they waited for their visas and those who still waiting for their Visas have been living in daily fear of attack and assassination, hardly daring to venture outside or even to get food to eat for fear of attack.
And many of those still waiting won't get a Visa at all.
A Broken Promise?
Is that what you call the Betrayal, Fear, Torture and for some already and many more to come , the Execution of one or more of these people and those in their Families because of a callous and indifferent morally reprehensible bunch of self interested Politicians who care not for the consequences of their disregard and who obviously have no intention of honoring a commitment assured and a promise made Nor of their actions showing to all that they have no compulsion in proving that the word and promise of a nation to those that risked their lives for it is worthless and a lie.
Moreover, whilst waiting for their promised visas, some of these people have been killed for having helped America during the war whilst others have had family members killed for the same reason.
All of them and their families as they waited for their visas and those who still waiting for their Visas have been living in daily fear of attack and assassination, hardly daring to venture outside or even to get food to eat for fear of attack.
And many of those still waiting won't get a Visa at all.
A Broken Promise?
Is that what you call the Betrayal, Fear, Torture and for some already and many more to come , the Execution of one or more of these people and those in their Families because of a callous and indifferent morally reprehensible bunch of self interested Politicians who care not for the consequences of their disregard and who obviously have no intention of honoring a commitment assured and a promise made Nor of their actions showing to all that they have no compulsion in proving that the word and promise of a nation to those that risked their lives for it is worthless and a lie.
7
Obama should be ashamed. Where is the leadership here? It is no wonder the world cant trust America anymore.
How about- for every illegal immigrant we deport- we replace with one of these Afghan's who have already proved and earned a spot to be here...
7
A Broken Promise?
Is that what you call the Betrayal, Fear, Torture and for some already and many more to come , their murder and those in their Family? These brave Afghans who risked their lives to serve and protect Americans and in some cases saved their lives?
Betrayed because of a callous and indifferent morally reprehensible bunch of self interested Politicians who care not for the consequences of their disregard and who obviously had no intention of honoring a commitment assured and a promise made, because they haven't.
If a duly authorized representative of America makes a promise to protect and keep safe those who risk their lives and that of their family to help and keep safe Americans, then that is what America must do and do without delay or hesitation. The promise cannot be unmade nor does it require the permission or approval of others to be maintained, changed or taken back.
How dare Congress toy with people's lives and so easily rescind their Country's word and promise and have so little concern for making their Country a liar, untrustworthy and in doing so, ensuring the certain death for a great many people who trusted the word of America.
The reputation of the U.S military forces has also been damaged by these members of Congress who by their actions have shown great insult and disrespect to those who protect their country and also betrayed their personal integrity knowing that those they promised to protect will die.
Is that what you call the Betrayal, Fear, Torture and for some already and many more to come , their murder and those in their Family? These brave Afghans who risked their lives to serve and protect Americans and in some cases saved their lives?
Betrayed because of a callous and indifferent morally reprehensible bunch of self interested Politicians who care not for the consequences of their disregard and who obviously had no intention of honoring a commitment assured and a promise made, because they haven't.
If a duly authorized representative of America makes a promise to protect and keep safe those who risk their lives and that of their family to help and keep safe Americans, then that is what America must do and do without delay or hesitation. The promise cannot be unmade nor does it require the permission or approval of others to be maintained, changed or taken back.
How dare Congress toy with people's lives and so easily rescind their Country's word and promise and have so little concern for making their Country a liar, untrustworthy and in doing so, ensuring the certain death for a great many people who trusted the word of America.
The reputation of the U.S military forces has also been damaged by these members of Congress who by their actions have shown great insult and disrespect to those who protect their country and also betrayed their personal integrity knowing that those they promised to protect will die.
13
Good Lord.
It's bad enough that we feel the need to intervene in these useless, futile wars. But to betray the people that help us there is a moral outrage. Maybe the Senator from Utah should read Dante's Inferno - the part about betrayers. Hint, it's not at the beginning of the book.
It's bad enough that we feel the need to intervene in these useless, futile wars. But to betray the people that help us there is a moral outrage. Maybe the Senator from Utah should read Dante's Inferno - the part about betrayers. Hint, it's not at the beginning of the book.
18
"Last week, the Senate followed the House in passing a defense bill that discontinues the program."
This is what today's Republicans do. To borrow from a phrase, There is no soul or heart there.
It should also be noted that EVERY Republican president since 1980 has submitted budgets that under-funded VA and most other other veterans' programs.
Republicans may know the cost of everything, but have little, if an concept, of the value of what really matters.
This is what today's Republicans do. To borrow from a phrase, There is no soul or heart there.
It should also be noted that EVERY Republican president since 1980 has submitted budgets that under-funded VA and most other other veterans' programs.
Republicans may know the cost of everything, but have little, if an concept, of the value of what really matters.
30
Senatorial courtesy is not legally binding. This one Senator who used it to block legislation could have easily been ignored by the other Senators but they chose to adhere to an arcane "rule" that had a big impact upon the lives of many people.
This is democracy?
Do the right thing, give the interpreters their visas and be done with it.
This is democracy?
Do the right thing, give the interpreters their visas and be done with it.
23
Iraqis who helped the Americans have met similar fates. This is shameful.
19
Afghanistan is much more like Vietnam besides Senator Jeanne Shaheen's 'broken promise'!
North Vietnam = Pakistan
South Vietnam = Afghanistan
Cambodia = North Waziristan/Baluchistan
Viet Kong = Afghan Taliban/Haqqani network
Communism = Islamic fundamentalism
Vietnamization = Afghanization
1975 = 2017 or 2018?
Only difference is North Vietnam was an enemy whose PROXIES were killing US troops in South Vietnam for which US bombed North Vietnam relentlessly and mined Hanoi harbor.
But Pakistan is an ally whose PROXIES (to use Adm Mullen’s phrase) have been killing US/NATO troops in Afghanistan since 2001 for which US is showering this duplicitous ally with billions in aid.
US Adm Mullen testified to US Senate Armed Services Committee on 9-22-2011 that 'Afghan Taliban/Haqqani network are the PROXIES of the Pakistani government'.
Adm Mullen told 'A BLUNT TRUTH AND DID SO PUBLICLY' on 9-22-2011 as per ex-Def Sec Panetta in his book published in Oct2014.
North Vietnam = Pakistan
South Vietnam = Afghanistan
Cambodia = North Waziristan/Baluchistan
Viet Kong = Afghan Taliban/Haqqani network
Communism = Islamic fundamentalism
Vietnamization = Afghanization
1975 = 2017 or 2018?
Only difference is North Vietnam was an enemy whose PROXIES were killing US troops in South Vietnam for which US bombed North Vietnam relentlessly and mined Hanoi harbor.
But Pakistan is an ally whose PROXIES (to use Adm Mullen’s phrase) have been killing US/NATO troops in Afghanistan since 2001 for which US is showering this duplicitous ally with billions in aid.
US Adm Mullen testified to US Senate Armed Services Committee on 9-22-2011 that 'Afghan Taliban/Haqqani network are the PROXIES of the Pakistani government'.
Adm Mullen told 'A BLUNT TRUTH AND DID SO PUBLICLY' on 9-22-2011 as per ex-Def Sec Panetta in his book published in Oct2014.
1
You just don't make that promise without following through!
You just don't do that! It is wrong! If you promised that based upon their risking their lives, you have to follow through.
A lot of people from Viet Nam really learned to love America when we were there. Not that they should, necessarily, but they did. And they loved it here. Yes, some of them did some bad things... Not many... Not worst than the average for America.
This is sick. Let them in!
I can't demand it, we're going to have to organize for such things. But we need to be sure that we're correct before organizing...
You just don't do that! It is wrong! If you promised that based upon their risking their lives, you have to follow through.
A lot of people from Viet Nam really learned to love America when we were there. Not that they should, necessarily, but they did. And they loved it here. Yes, some of them did some bad things... Not many... Not worst than the average for America.
This is sick. Let them in!
I can't demand it, we're going to have to organize for such things. But we need to be sure that we're correct before organizing...
3
The list of wrongs as a result of our invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq is getting too long to count. The list of right results does not exist. Yet in this newspaper, we read another proposal for invading and removing another middle eastern government (Syria) this very week. The war profiteers don't care about any of the "collateral damage" as long as the money continues to flow.
3
I am so thoroughly disgusted by this inhumane and foolish betrayal.
8
As someone who served, as an officer, I am embarassed and disappointed that we have declined to honor a promise made to brave people who saved American lives again and again.
It is unconscionable that this legislation would be held up over pure politics. no surprise, Mike Lee never served. You can say what you want about the military but at least within the officer corps, our word matters. To me, we have lied to these brave Afghan people. We in the military hold ourselves to higher standards -- standards being compromised by the "rear echelon" on Capitol Hill. Pathetic.
And this failure will affect our ability to get these key support people wherever the next war is...
It is unconscionable that this legislation would be held up over pure politics. no surprise, Mike Lee never served. You can say what you want about the military but at least within the officer corps, our word matters. To me, we have lied to these brave Afghan people. We in the military hold ourselves to higher standards -- standards being compromised by the "rear echelon" on Capitol Hill. Pathetic.
And this failure will affect our ability to get these key support people wherever the next war is...
12
Isn't this sweet? America fails to complete its mission successfully and then leaves loyal agents of support adrift in the terror of their home setting. Who cares? Evidently, not the senators and representatives who champ the most tightly at the bit of all war all the time, so long as somebody else suffers.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
3
At this point, we remain in Afghanistan mainly because of the enormous loss of national prestige and its regional (and worldwide) consequences that would be incurred by leaving and watching as the Taliban quickly retook territory and then probably the capital within a couple of years. There are many more who would be left behind.
2
I can't see any reasonable excuse for not continuing and vigorously implementing this program. Given the dearth of reason among a large group of politicians I can envision a member of Congress facing re-election and being accused of admitting "terrorists" into the U.S. based on their support of the program.
7
More than a broken promise, the "terps" sacrificed so much to assist American Soldiers in virtually every circumstance. Many were killed and/or wounded and now the US government has turned its back on those who really need to come to the US to avoid further sacrifice.
Is the United States a country of broken promises? It appears so!
LTC, US Army
Paktia/Khost Provinces, Afghanitan/2003
Is the United States a country of broken promises? It appears so!
LTC, US Army
Paktia/Khost Provinces, Afghanitan/2003
8
If one person messed this up, I'm not surprised it was a Republican. And I'm not surprised it was Mike Lee, whose only accomplishment of note has been befriending Ted Cruz.
10
Sorry Jeanne, but we should never have gone to Afghanistan in the first place. I don't know about your preferences, but Mr. McCain believed we were protecting America's interests by killing Afghans. The Afghans who were paid to assist U.S. forces understood the risks. Frankly, I don't believe anything these Senators say anymore as the war was a complete waste of lives and trillions of taxpayer dollars. I wonder how many lives in America could have been saved if that money went towards medical care for the poor and indigent.
1
Had any one of you senators who opposed this had been in Afghanistan and possibly depended on one of the native interpreters to protect your own life, how do you think that might have influenced your vote?
7
Senate and House Republican abandoning people to whom we made promises? I'm just shocked!
/snark
/snark
7
what issue could have possibly motivated Lee to cut the legs from this legislation? What was it he wanted, that he held the bill hostage for? I'd really like to know.
11
I live in Columbus, OH, just ten minutes away from 35,000 Somalis who were settled here for humanitarian reasons. To the best of my knowledge, none of them assisted Americans. Minneapolis has possibly as many as double the settled Somalis as Columbus and the refugees were settled in smaller numbers in other states. IF we have the space for these people who were at risk of death from warlords, why can't we keep our word to people who served us in Afghanistan when we know what the Taliban will do to them.
Personally, I think that we ought to take n any women that want to come, too. So many powerful women including Laura Bush, who promised that the US would not allow Afghani women be at the mercy of the Taliban ever again, should not have made that promise. I'm sure that it gave millions of women hope that has turned into anger against the US.
Personally, I think that we ought to take n any women that want to come, too. So many powerful women including Laura Bush, who promised that the US would not allow Afghani women be at the mercy of the Taliban ever again, should not have made that promise. I'm sure that it gave millions of women hope that has turned into anger against the US.
4
Republicans have a special name for the 10,000 brave Afghani men and women who put themselves and their families at risk to help American officials and troops accomplish their missions and return home safely: cannon fodder.
Every time you think the Republican Party cannot dig down deeper into the depths of hell on earth, they always surprise you and dig down deeper.
Another GOP Death Panel strikes again, as surely this act of Republican ideology will result in more arbitrary, needless deaths of innocents.
Nice people.
Every time you think the Republican Party cannot dig down deeper into the depths of hell on earth, they always surprise you and dig down deeper.
Another GOP Death Panel strikes again, as surely this act of Republican ideology will result in more arbitrary, needless deaths of innocents.
Nice people.
102
What's sad is how foolish these people were to imagine America would stand up for them, when America has no history of doing anything of the sort. The Vietnam experience has been repeated many times before and since. America always abandons the local help.
I was glad to make a donation to "The List Project" ( thelistproject.org ) at the urging of the late Michael Hastings' book; he felt very bad for the Iraqis that made his job possible and protected his life with their own. But The List Project has also been pathetically unsuccessful at moving the American immigration screens aside for Iraqi interpreters.
It's hardly surprising: a populace that tends to equate everybody in the whole country with "Terrorist" is hardly about to let a little thing like owing soldier's lives to their bravery set aside that prejudice: List Project cases and Afghan interpreters are just treated like probable terrorists asking to move in next door.
Americans are just so very afraid of "foreigners". It's just crazy for a "foreigner" to imagine that America will take them in, no matter how great the debt, how dire their need.
I can only pity them and hope they apply to come to Canada; we would greatly profit from their bravery and competence.
I was glad to make a donation to "The List Project" ( thelistproject.org ) at the urging of the late Michael Hastings' book; he felt very bad for the Iraqis that made his job possible and protected his life with their own. But The List Project has also been pathetically unsuccessful at moving the American immigration screens aside for Iraqi interpreters.
It's hardly surprising: a populace that tends to equate everybody in the whole country with "Terrorist" is hardly about to let a little thing like owing soldier's lives to their bravery set aside that prejudice: List Project cases and Afghan interpreters are just treated like probable terrorists asking to move in next door.
Americans are just so very afraid of "foreigners". It's just crazy for a "foreigner" to imagine that America will take them in, no matter how great the debt, how dire their need.
I can only pity them and hope they apply to come to Canada; we would greatly profit from their bravery and competence.
19
Blaming the people we recruited to help our war effort for being "foolish" is ridiculous. Do you expect them to be students of American war history? To know that people offering them protection and assistance, with the knowledge and approval of senior civilian and military leadership, will have their promises abandoned by the United States Congress?
6
A right-wing Senator strikes again.
16
How many cowards in congress does it take to harm our allies. That question is for you Senator Lee, whom I read never chose the honor of serving in the U. S. Military. Look at Lee's tenure on Wikipedia, it list repeated exercises in quashing fundamental efforts of decency, Flint water, extending retirement to 70, (he lacks the ability to project that far), obstruction to prevent obstructing government shutdown in 2013, etc. This guy is focused on disruption of hardworking Americans and the vulnerable, he should not be re-elected to the senate. After being duped by my government in one illegal war, I hope Senator Shaheen and McCain are successful in honoring pledges made to our friends and embedded nationals abroad, they deserve nothing less, and we need to practice keeping our word.
17
Senators Shaheen & Cain:
Thank you for so succinctly and clearly laying out why we voters need to rid our Congress of people like Senator Lee.
By voting out the unpatriotic, vindictive, incompetent GOP.
Thank you for so succinctly and clearly laying out why we voters need to rid our Congress of people like Senator Lee.
By voting out the unpatriotic, vindictive, incompetent GOP.
25
Our futures allies in future interventions should know, sadly, that in America there are individuals who believe that entire classes of human beings are disposable and that many such individuals are in Congress, the Courts, and if Trump wins, the Presidency. Entire classes of people, their fates are thrown away when politically convenient --much more so if they are minorities or somehow foreigners.
12
How the Special Immigrant Visa program is treated in Congress is no different than how the average US citizen is treated by the same body. Both the welfare of military interpreters and the American people have been abandoned by the current GOP-led Congress. Remember this in November, Please!
12
America is way behind. The Danish government abandoned the interpreters working for the Danish forces in Afghanistan years ago.
2
Our promise of protection was described here as implicit, not explicit, so we aren't breaking any promises it seems, but to me I think this visa program is a wonderful way to repay them for their dangerous service.
What angers me is the way this program was killed: by a single, self-important Senator exercising what must be the stupidest, most undemocratic, rule ever devised. A pox on Sen. Lee for blocking the right of the other 99 Senators, the voices of 330,000,000 Americans, from deciding this issue.
What angers me is the way this program was killed: by a single, self-important Senator exercising what must be the stupidest, most undemocratic, rule ever devised. A pox on Sen. Lee for blocking the right of the other 99 Senators, the voices of 330,000,000 Americans, from deciding this issue.
11
By the callousness of some posts, I can invariably determine the political affiliation of the poster.
The American Right really knows how to lose the heart and mind of anyone that might consider helping to further US interests.
The American Right really knows how to lose the heart and mind of anyone that might consider helping to further US interests.
19
I've had the pleasure of assisting and getting to know one of these families upon their arrival in the US in December. The husband/father had been an interpreter for US troops and is an experienced mechanical and electrical engineer. He brought with him a wife and two children under the age of 3, carrying only a suitcase each with essential belongings and a few precious momentos. Because of our good fortune (as descendants of immigrants from long ago), my wife and I are able and very happy to provide the family comfortable housing. They are the very model of decorum and respect, and the building they reside in is now full of savory aromas and the pleasant vibes of a thriving, happy family. The father has now taken a job loading trucks on the graveyard shift -- a waste of his considerable talents but a testament to his resourcefulness and determination. My daughter interviewed him for a somewhat tedious school project and was profoundly impacted by his family's story. In short, this is the exact type of person and family we should be elated to have emigrate to our country. We would benefit greatly as a society, just as I have benefitted from the good fortune of knowing them.
26
This has this has long been a disgraceful aspect of US commitment to other. It reflects the lack of integrity that seems to accompany all US promises. It's correction could have been effected in appropriate government offices, in the congress, even in the president's office but the current situation described here indicates indifference. Why should others trust the commitments of the US. Indeed, we do not even take care of our own.
3
So the freedom-loving GOP, replete with flag pins and pocket Constitutions, abandon those who helped our military in Afghanistan. Some patriots!
22
Senator Shaheen, we do have a record of breaking our promises and abandoning those who help us. That's nothing new, nor is staining our honor, what's left of it. I suggest you induce Senator McCain, who reccently endorsed that paragon of American virtue, Donald Trump, to convince his Republican colleagues of the error of their ways on this issue. We are not the problem, they are. Good luck, and don't hold your breath.
11
Only by being loyal to our good allies can we recruit more good allies to join our cause.
That is a basic principle that must never be betrayed to build trust. Not upholding this principle shows that one is not trustworthy. That is apparently the message the US is intent of sending.
We have come a long cry from what the greatest generation once stood for.
That is a basic principle that must never be betrayed to build trust. Not upholding this principle shows that one is not trustworthy. That is apparently the message the US is intent of sending.
We have come a long cry from what the greatest generation once stood for.
12
Senator Mike Lee, yet another “religious” and “values”-spouting Republican, a child of abundance and high political influence, should be ashamed, along with all the other cold-hearted lawmakers opposing this visa program. The cost of one fighter jet, indeed most any high-end military item, would more than cover its full implementation. Ask all Americans, and I expect a great majority would welcome these allies to our shores, but once again our representatives march to a partisan tune, not a American one.
Few among the many wanting to come to the USA has done such valuable service for us in their native lands, and at such personal cost.
Few among the many wanting to come to the USA has done such valuable service for us in their native lands, and at such personal cost.
14
It would seem to me that these would be the exact people we should be inviting into our nation. Not only have they proven a profound loyalty to our causes with their service, but they could be elemental in preventing radicalization having seen the impact of regimes like the Taliban in action first hand.
50
Senator Shaheen, we've figured out by now that the Republican-lead Congress has no heart.
13
Typical GOP legislative policy. Something that not only helps and protects people who served this country, but something that signals to the people most needed to assist our nonstop wars in the Middle East that we can't be trusted!and this, discourage local assistance all over the globe.
GOP 2016: cutting off their noses to spite their face.
GOP 2016: cutting off their noses to spite their face.
19
If these are such outstanding individuals and paragons of virtue then they are precisely the kind of people who should stay in their countries and work, advocate, demonstrate and yes pick a side and fight to the death if necessary to make their societies decent places to live as opposed to running like cowards to the USA "for the money" as many of my foreign student university friends have said of those who wangle and cheat and lie to stay in the USA after they get their degrees here. Neither this journalist or US servicemen overseas have a right to go around giving or "promising" gifts of US citizenship to foreigners in exchange for assistance these people are being paid for. Particularly since it is obvious that most of these people in these "might makes right" medievalist cultures have purely mercenary motives - are scheming to get precisely something like a free ticket to the USA and don't give a damn about the people in their own nation or anyone else for that matter.
2
Did you read the article? You are calling the author a journalist? She is a US senator.
4
Comments like the above tell you all you need to know about today's right.
5
This "journalist" happens to be a US senator, and has a bit more knowledge than you or I do about the subject. That said, you impugn the motives of people you don't know, do not reside in the US, are not students trying to game the system, and probably thought that working with us would better the Afghan society as a whole. But now they are seeing that the war of attrition with the Taliban will probably leave the Taliban in place in Afghanistan, and their lives, and their family's lives are in immediate danger. Walk in their shoes a little. It's easy to judge from our safe lives here in the US And in spite of gun-wielding maniacs amongst us, we live a charmed life compared to billions of others in the world.
9
a glutton thinks about the next meal as he chews the last.
Empire-struck countries always exaggerate their appetites
as they eat with their throats and ignore their stomachs,
which leads to bulimia and other disorders. even then the toilet
gets no rest, only a desperate embrace.
Empire-struck countries always exaggerate their appetites
as they eat with their throats and ignore their stomachs,
which leads to bulimia and other disorders. even then the toilet
gets no rest, only a desperate embrace.
4
tocme-yana(Pashto/Afghan)=seed,=tocne(N)/hey! out of the rain=
yana/oyan(Nauatl)=shelter fm rain,=yani(N)=pilgrim/traveler.
tocne(Nauatl)=toca=sow and bury,=to/our being/ca,=tocar(Sp)=play flute,=
touch(E). start with this and keep on. idioms are connected. we call them
languages=tlacuace(N)=tlaca ua ce(N)=take one/own it,=tlacuache(zool.)=
possum(L)=it's possible.
yana/oyan(Nauatl)=shelter fm rain,=yani(N)=pilgrim/traveler.
tocne(Nauatl)=toca=sow and bury,=to/our being/ca,=tocar(Sp)=play flute,=
touch(E). start with this and keep on. idioms are connected. we call them
languages=tlacuace(N)=tlaca ua ce(N)=take one/own it,=tlacuache(zool.)=
possum(L)=it's possible.
1
th usa spends $ 4, 000, 000 PER HOUR in afg
and who knows how many billions in equipment they will abandon when they finally leave, if that ever happens
well, th Taliban will make good use of it as did isis
for a warrior nation, america really is bad at it
and who knows how many billions in equipment they will abandon when they finally leave, if that ever happens
well, th Taliban will make good use of it as did isis
for a warrior nation, america really is bad at it
5
The Afghan interpreters were serving their own country, as well they should. America doesn't owe them anything. It is OK to expect people to step up and take responsibility for themselves, NYT; not everything has to be a cause for American liberal hand-wringing and angst.
3
liberal? the sponsors of this legislation are two Republican senators. And it is not a NYtimes opinion, it is a Open editorial
9
Invading Afghanistan in the first place was an act of monumental stupidity exceeded in stupidity only by the subsequent invasion of Iraq. They were perpetrated by cowardly men who not only had not fought in anyway but who had pulled all strings to avoid serving. George W.Bush was plainly stupid and didn't even know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites. Cheney was and is a psychopath and belongs in prison. Wolfowitz and all his neocon cohorts are cowards willing to fight wars with the bodies of other peoples' children. John McCain should hang his head in shame. He is supporting a presidential candidate who says that POWs are not heroes. That from a person who never served a day in his life. Of course we're letting the Afghanis who helped us hang out to dry. What else would you expect from a country which hanged a few prominent Nazis after WWII and then let the rest off the hook.
17
Why do these people need visas? Is the battle against the Taliban lost? If so, why are 10,000 American troops there? And if the battle is not lost, aren't the visa seekers among the people needed to win it?
5
Guess what? This is standard operating procedure for the US government. Use, abuse and then stab in the back when its opportune.
13
no one expects any better from th usa anymore
we know what you are, despite th braggadocio and bluster
th thin mask of good guy has been stripped long ago
maybe when we saw th image of a naked Vietnamese girl running down a road in terror of your advancing death machine
nothing you do henceforth, NOTHING, will surprise anyone
we know what you are, despite th braggadocio and bluster
th thin mask of good guy has been stripped long ago
maybe when we saw th image of a naked Vietnamese girl running down a road in terror of your advancing death machine
nothing you do henceforth, NOTHING, will surprise anyone
8
Maybe US universities and high schools should expand their language programs. The state of language programs in US education is a disaster. Maybe we should take our own interpreters to our wars? That way we do not have to offer immigrant visas to collaborators and local interpreters.
4
To be able to fluently interpret from a language like Pashto, you need to be for all intents and purposes bilingual. You're not going to get that from someone studying the language from middle up and up.
3
I highly doubt there would be many students, besides Afghan ethnics, that would sign up and pay money to learn a language only spoken by a very small group. Even in Afghanistan there are myriad dialects, how could our universities possibly defend funding classes for those languages when there are more important problems to deal with in higher Ed? The fix is to be true to our word.
10
This is really not the point.
And I find your comment extremely callous and hateful.
The translators were and are loyal allies of the United States and should be treated as such.
America should not again betray its friends.
And I find your comment extremely callous and hateful.
The translators were and are loyal allies of the United States and should be treated as such.
America should not again betray its friends.
12
When I was wroking in Kabul, I tried to assist a young Afghan and his family to get out of the country. I met with a State Dept. representative, who after a cursory glance at his visa application said, "He's nothing special." Sayeed and his family are still stuck there today, dodging threats from the Taliban for having worked with the coalition. Out of thousands of expedited visas, when I left the country the embassy had processed a grand total of *75*. Pathetic.
It is dishonorable the way we continue to treat allies who literally put their lives on the line to help us, and a stain on our reputation. I sincerely hope Senator Shaheen suceeds in keeping the program alive, and any similar programs for Iraqis in the same situation.
It is dishonorable the way we continue to treat allies who literally put their lives on the line to help us, and a stain on our reputation. I sincerely hope Senator Shaheen suceeds in keeping the program alive, and any similar programs for Iraqis in the same situation.
95
Clearly our mission in Afghanistan has been a failure if we need to bring afghans to America for protection?
5
Clearly but beside the point
6
Senate Republicans who refuse to exercise the moral imperative of admitting the Afghan interpreters and their families, who risked everything to help U.S. troops, are engaging in an act of political cowardice and moral repugnance. Mike Lee's blocking of the appropriate immigration legislation is an cynical, ethically sordid decision, to apparently curry favor with the racist,anti immigration mentality endemic to a significant number of Republicans. Senator Lee's allowing these brave translators to slowly twist in a wind of Taliban threats is a national and moral disgrace.
39
How is "this on Obama" if a Republican controlled Senate and now a single Republican Senator from Utah can veto additional visas for Afghani interpreters used by US military and other services?
These Republican Senators deserve a party "steward" like Donald Trump.
Still, our country deserves much (much) better.
These Republican Senators deserve a party "steward" like Donald Trump.
Still, our country deserves much (much) better.
24
The party of morals and ethics is in charge of congress you see. The only problem is that is has none. It hasn't for quite awhile now. It has gotten to the point where you don't just disagree with them, you can't even bear to listen to them speak for more that a few minutes. If you do, you'll have to tolerate some distorted fact, false accusation or conspiracy theory. A few plain old direct lies always seem to get thrown in for good measure. The lies are always told with a straight face too, all while simultaneously preaching about morals, truth and the American way. It's no surprise that they would turn their backs on foreigners who have risked everything to provide us help. Doing otherwise would be very politically inconvenient. This is an election year where the party leader has declared white Christians as the only kind of people worth saving. They pretend to hate that, but they really love it.
32
Congress needs to honor the commitment to these individuals seems obvious. On the other hand, clearly the job in Afghanistan is not done if the taliban is free to murder these individuals. I'll never fully understand why normal afghans don't rise up and kill off the taliban, why is it our job to protect afghans from the taliban? We trained the police and military, now let them run their country.
5
They are weary of war which has been raging since the late 70's. At this point their manpower and appetite for conflict is severely depleted. As Americans we see the middle eastern men as cowards for not fighting for their freedom, but when they do we come in and out them in their place (Iraq, Vietnam, Philippines). The reason being is that their democracy is in fact undesirable by our corporations who rely on monarchies and colonialism to increase their own profits.
4
As I recall, President Obama, when he was running for office in 2008 opined that the war in Afghanistan was the war that we needed to win.
Is seems, however, that he is now far more interested in running from that war with his tail between his legs.
...It's just another example of the feckless foreign policy that has rendered his administration impotent on the international stage.
Is seems, however, that he is now far more interested in running from that war with his tail between his legs.
...It's just another example of the feckless foreign policy that has rendered his administration impotent on the international stage.
3
Austria, a tiny country of 8.5 million, took in 24 840 Afghan refugees in 2015.
That the equivalent of the US taken in 943 000 , almost a million.
http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Five_ma...
That the equivalent of the US taken in 943 000 , almost a million.
http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Five_ma...
8
The President is the commander in Chief.
Where is he?
Where is he?
3
This is on Obama...................................he gets to make the final calls as his term thankfully draws to a close.
2
after th calamity of bush you had th disaster of obama
what new horrors await you w th next nincompoop president
stay tuned, youre gonna find out in a hurry
what new horrors await you w th next nincompoop president
stay tuned, youre gonna find out in a hurry
Obama does not have the ability to rule by fiat. As made clear in the article funding for the program must be made available. Only the legislative branch has the Constitutional authority to provide funding for this program.
11
It's the same in Britain. Those who our troops relied upon, and who are not safe in their homelands, are being abandoned and forgotten. Apart from being dishonourable in the extreme, this bodes ill for our troops if (when) they are next in a foreign theatre. Who will put themselves and their families at risk when the foreigners will leave them to their fate?
43
Thank you for this very important article. It makes me steaming mad that we could possibly turn our backs on these very brave men and women who helped our nation. It's simply disgraceful and dishonorable. And although you AT LEAST mentioned Mike Lee's name, he should be publicly shamed, repeatedly. Maybe his name should be in the by line. Goodness gracious, what a shameful display.
17
It is beyond shameful that a GOP-run Congress is essentially abandoning those Afghans who risked their lives to serve as interpreters with our military forces. But let's be clear on who, precisely, is abandoning them: despite the efforts of Senator McCain, it is primarily Republicans with their nativist prejudices against immigrants who are blocking the inclusion of more visas. The party that hasn't seen a war in the Middle East it doesn't want us to jump into thinks nothing of betraying the allies who serve along side us.
20
If only they were as quick to limit the visas of those workers who flood our country and take American jobs. But it's understandable. These people don't help the bottom lines of their corporate buddies.
11
Yeah. Visas for foreign workers who take our IT jobs, but no visas for those helping American soldiers. Disgraceful.
10
Islam hates us.
Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.
I tell you there's something going on - that maybe you don't know about, and maybe a lot of people don't know about - but there's tremendous hatred.
I am calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.
#AmericaFirst #MAGA
Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.
I tell you there's something going on - that maybe you don't know about, and maybe a lot of people don't know about - but there's tremendous hatred.
I am calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.
#AmericaFirst #MAGA
3
The interpreters don't hate us. But typical for a conservative, use people for what you need, then throw them away.
19
These are people who risked their lives to help Americans. To make America stronger, I'd take 10 of them over one of you any day. Where your blanket hatred of these good people comes from is the part that is hard to understand
24
Shouldn't you be spelling your name "juvenile"?
9
We abandoned many of the Iraqis who helped American forces, and barely a murmur against that was heard. Now we are doing it to the Afghans. It's not a fluke, it's a pattern of behavior. Sen. Shaheen says. "Abandoning these Afghans would not just be a stain on our national honor..." Senator, our national honor has so many stains that it's become a joke to the rest of the world, and besides, you are addressing the U.S. Congress. What would its members know of honor? Nothing, Senator, nothing.
46
Title of article should have read, John McCain, Republican Senator dupes Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic Senator of New Hampshire. We've seen McCain in action, he is always reasonable and responsible before it is time to vote.
4
Instead of writing a comment, please consider contacting your elected representatives and asking them to support Sen. Shaheen's upcoming bill (see www.usa.gov/elected-officials for contact info). Here is some suggested text adapted from her article.
Please support the bipartisan bill that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and her subcommittee colleagues are writing that will extend the visa program for Afghanis who supported the U.S. military as interpreters. We must renew this program to staying true to our nation’s principles and promises and to protect our Afghan friends from reprisals. We cannot abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us.
(P.S. I live in Ohio and have no political affiliation with Sen. Shaheen or her party. I simply believe in this issue and feel that messages to our representatives will do more than comments on this article. Thank you.)
Please support the bipartisan bill that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and her subcommittee colleagues are writing that will extend the visa program for Afghanis who supported the U.S. military as interpreters. We must renew this program to staying true to our nation’s principles and promises and to protect our Afghan friends from reprisals. We cannot abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us.
(P.S. I live in Ohio and have no political affiliation with Sen. Shaheen or her party. I simply believe in this issue and feel that messages to our representatives will do more than comments on this article. Thank you.)
29
The people in congress stopping this program are no different from Donald Trump. Neither believe in paying their debts, and love to short the little guy.
16
You know, there are some days when I read the Times, my head explodes.
There are other days where I want to run out to the lake and drown myself.
Today, it's both, not necessarily in that order.
Someone asked how these people keep getting elected?
I don't know.
It makes my head explode.
There are other days where I want to run out to the lake and drown myself.
Today, it's both, not necessarily in that order.
Someone asked how these people keep getting elected?
I don't know.
It makes my head explode.
18
The corporatocracy and the military/industrial complex OWN America. More importantly, however, is the fact that in the last congressional elections, slightly more than 20 percent of the registered voters actually voted in that election. See the problem? In any elections, Republicans thrive AND win when there is a low voter turnout. GET OUT AND VOTE and remove these heartless deadbeats from office and change will come.
7
If Afghanis are threatened with retaliation for aiding and abetting Americans in their country, then there's something dangerously wrong in Afghanistan that we cannot fix.
American soldiers leaving Japan did not leave Japanese to be assaulted for assisting us. That's probably because we conquered them and they surrendered unconditionally, and they knew it while we were there. The same cannot be said for Afghanistan, where we tried to shower them with soccer fields and hospitals and schools to "win their hearts and minds". Apparently, that didn't happen. Instead, we should have demanded unconditional surrender from the beginning. Sadly, neither Senators McCain nor Shaheen thought to impose this on the Afghanis. Why is that?
We didn't fight a war in Afghanistan. We sent soldiers in to kill, and tried to pretend we weren't fighting a war. We put our soldiers' lives at risk to keep Afghanis alive. We thought less of our own soldiers than we did of Afghanis. This is rotten.
American soldiers leaving Japan did not leave Japanese to be assaulted for assisting us. That's probably because we conquered them and they surrendered unconditionally, and they knew it while we were there. The same cannot be said for Afghanistan, where we tried to shower them with soccer fields and hospitals and schools to "win their hearts and minds". Apparently, that didn't happen. Instead, we should have demanded unconditional surrender from the beginning. Sadly, neither Senators McCain nor Shaheen thought to impose this on the Afghanis. Why is that?
We didn't fight a war in Afghanistan. We sent soldiers in to kill, and tried to pretend we weren't fighting a war. We put our soldiers' lives at risk to keep Afghanis alive. We thought less of our own soldiers than we did of Afghanis. This is rotten.
3
Maybe you didn't read the same article as the rest of us, but this is about not thinking enough of the Afghanis to bring them to America.
2
MissHunter, maybe you didn't understand the article, but my interpretation is: the author compares the US Army's withdrawal from Vietnam and leaving behind the South Vietnamese to be abused by the North Vietnamese, with the US Army leaving Afghanistan and "abandoning" the Afghanis who assisted them to be abused by their neighbors as a result of "collaborating" with the US. My comment points out that we supposedly fought a war with Afghanistan, and compares it to the war we fought with Japan. Apparently 20th century American history is lost on you. My comment also points out that unlike Japan, we didn't treat the Afghanis like a conquered people. Perhaps if we had, the country's way forward would have been more like Japan's. Perhaps if the Afghanis themselves accepted that they were a conquered people, their country's way forward would have been more like Japan's. Apparently that is lost on you as well. Or perhaps you prefer the Afghanis to live in a destitute country. Unlike the Japanese.
1
Say it more than just once: "#MikeLee" is one more dysfunctional right winger who is bringing shame on the country. Fie!!!
19
Typical. We always do that. I don't know at this point who would be dumb enough to trust us. We don't even trust 'us.'
11
Ms. Shaheen - please continue the fight to aid our Afgan allies. The phrase "no one gets left behind" should apply to ALL those who risked their lives assisting the US Military - especially if leaving them behind means certain death (or worse).
And thank you for reaching outside of Washington to make your voice heard. Too often the headlines shout the same stories, ad nauseam, and important issues like this one go unnoticed. Leaving behind those who risked their lives for us will have dire implications in the years to come - not only for them, but for our country as well.
And thank you for reaching outside of Washington to make your voice heard. Too often the headlines shout the same stories, ad nauseam, and important issues like this one go unnoticed. Leaving behind those who risked their lives for us will have dire implications in the years to come - not only for them, but for our country as well.
14
We have an obligation to these people. How we handle it will determine whether or not the United States can be trusted when lives are on the line.
16
Does Congress do anything useful anymore? These people saved American lives and are heroes. The same is true for those in Iraq who helped our troops. They risked their lives to save Americans and help our forces. Shame on Congress.
7
Shame on Republicans.
7
This sounds like the Congress uses the Trump strategy - lie enough times about being committed to your interpreters and then do what you feel like doing with no concern about their welfare.
9
"We do not abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us."
If only. Having just finished reading the story about those USAF officers who cleaned up the plutonium spill in Palomares, Spain, following the 1966 crash of a B52 carrying four nuclear weapons and how the US government has systematically covered up their history and denying medical claims for FIFTY YEARS I can't help but think that yes, we DO abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us.
Those chicken hawks in Congress who think that every international problem can be solved by simply pouring more money down the DOD rabbit hole and then have the audacity to throw these people under the bus after the fact should make any decent American question their votes in November.
If only. Having just finished reading the story about those USAF officers who cleaned up the plutonium spill in Palomares, Spain, following the 1966 crash of a B52 carrying four nuclear weapons and how the US government has systematically covered up their history and denying medical claims for FIFTY YEARS I can't help but think that yes, we DO abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us.
Those chicken hawks in Congress who think that every international problem can be solved by simply pouring more money down the DOD rabbit hole and then have the audacity to throw these people under the bus after the fact should make any decent American question their votes in November.
17
Like reasonable gun control legislation, this should be a no brainer for the House and Senate to continue the visa program. But there I go again assuming this Congress has any brains or common sense.
7
Thank you Senator.....we the intepretters here in afghanistan have full trust in your excellency. We are hopeful that the americams will not leave us behind with all the terror that we and our family are facing. We are really worried as the the number of visa left are very less and there are 1000s waiting to get onboard.
16
My heart breaks to hear of your terror-- thank you so much for being our friend.
4
I thank you from my heart for your help. Another commenter has suggested we write to our senators and members of Congress to demand that the visa program be continued. I will do so with your, and your compatriots', bravery and safety in mind! We owe you all.
4
The U.S. has a long history of invading other countries for our own benefit and then leaving those countries and its peoples in ruins.
Before us the French and the British did this as well.
Why should Afghanistan be any different?
Before us the French and the British did this as well.
Why should Afghanistan be any different?
2
The British maybe not so much, they are overrun with folks from their former colonies as are the French. Maybe they just wanted cheap labor.
1
Here we go again.
Remember when our involvement in Vietnam was a few "advisors" that had to protected by more and more troops? And when we finally slunk away remember our abandonment of those who assisted us?
And we wonder why people hate us?
We had no business being there in the first place, just as we had no business being in the mid East. Once again we got trounced and once again we abandoning the locals that helped us. Do we ever learn?
We should pay closer attention to those we pick a fight with, someone that we can beat. Otherwise stay out. The Russians deserve a big chunk of the world. They beat Nazi Germany for us. The Cold War scared me as it should the Russians. MAD is a truly stupid idea.
Eisenhower was right. The biggest enemy is the military industrial complex, here and in Russia. I don't see a way around that.
The very least we can do is take care of our veterans and the locals that support them. Is that too much to ask?
Remember when our involvement in Vietnam was a few "advisors" that had to protected by more and more troops? And when we finally slunk away remember our abandonment of those who assisted us?
And we wonder why people hate us?
We had no business being there in the first place, just as we had no business being in the mid East. Once again we got trounced and once again we abandoning the locals that helped us. Do we ever learn?
We should pay closer attention to those we pick a fight with, someone that we can beat. Otherwise stay out. The Russians deserve a big chunk of the world. They beat Nazi Germany for us. The Cold War scared me as it should the Russians. MAD is a truly stupid idea.
Eisenhower was right. The biggest enemy is the military industrial complex, here and in Russia. I don't see a way around that.
The very least we can do is take care of our veterans and the locals that support them. Is that too much to ask?
1
We should acknowledge our obligations to those who dutifully assisted the war effort in Afghanistan, as well as censure those like Field Marshall Cheney and Fleet Admiral Rumsfeld who led us into an endless, useless war with the Taliban on the pretext of punishing al-Qaeda.
Instead of pandering to piecemeal notions about refugees, Guantanamo prisoners, and the withdrawal of US forces from America’s longest war, Senators should tender a comprehensive position on American involvement in Afghanistan. They should express their position in the form of a Senate resolution, not just statements and letters to the media.
Instead of pandering to piecemeal notions about refugees, Guantanamo prisoners, and the withdrawal of US forces from America’s longest war, Senators should tender a comprehensive position on American involvement in Afghanistan. They should express their position in the form of a Senate resolution, not just statements and letters to the media.
2
At least three of the responders to this column belong in Congress, because their lack of empathy for others enables them to satisfy the main requirement for service in that august body.
The objections to the cost of the program would be funny if the results were not so tragic. A Congress willing to lavish vast sums on a muscle-bound military that probably will prove ill-suited to meet the security challenges of the 21st century refuses to pay for a program that could save thousands of lives and be paid for out of petty cash.
The other dimension of this tragedy that should infuriate anyone who believes in democratic government involves the ability of one senator to block a measure or an appointment, and for reasons unrelated to the merits of the proposal or the candidate. Mike Lee will have blood on his hands if anyone dies due to his unconscionable behavior, but his senate colleagues, Democrat and Republican, will share responsibility because of their complicity in creating and preserving such a rule. Who would spearhead a drive to expunge this obscenity, however, when he too could enjoy the thrill of exercising such extraordinary power in the future?
This betrayal of our Afghan allies would provoke outrage even if it were a unique example of congressional irresponsibility. Only the intervention of Jon Stewart, however, prevented our elected officials from refusing to fund medical insurance for the first responders in the 9/11 attacks.
The objections to the cost of the program would be funny if the results were not so tragic. A Congress willing to lavish vast sums on a muscle-bound military that probably will prove ill-suited to meet the security challenges of the 21st century refuses to pay for a program that could save thousands of lives and be paid for out of petty cash.
The other dimension of this tragedy that should infuriate anyone who believes in democratic government involves the ability of one senator to block a measure or an appointment, and for reasons unrelated to the merits of the proposal or the candidate. Mike Lee will have blood on his hands if anyone dies due to his unconscionable behavior, but his senate colleagues, Democrat and Republican, will share responsibility because of their complicity in creating and preserving such a rule. Who would spearhead a drive to expunge this obscenity, however, when he too could enjoy the thrill of exercising such extraordinary power in the future?
This betrayal of our Afghan allies would provoke outrage even if it were a unique example of congressional irresponsibility. Only the intervention of Jon Stewart, however, prevented our elected officials from refusing to fund medical insurance for the first responders in the 9/11 attacks.
6
GOP Ideologues should be your targeted audience since they have conducted a campaign of misinformation against immigrants, especially Muslims. The last 2 terrorist attacks were conducted, like it or not, by US born citizens. Vetting foreigners will not help protect us from domestic lone-wolf terrorists. A thorough mental health profiling of the murderer in Orlando by the FBI would have revealed a person of longstanding instability and domestic violence severe enough that his first wife said that she felt lucky to have gotten out of the marriage alive. So while you're at your legislating, please include a change in the FBI profiling of mental health risk factors. That's the only way we have of assessing the probability that a person applying for gun ownership is safe and does not have a history of domestic violence which is, after all, a form of terrorism. You don't really expect democrats in the Senate to stick their necks out if the GOP is determined to abandon the Afghanis who have been indispensable to our success in their country.
5
Congress has already sent a potent message to the world. It said don't trust us.
Even if this new attempt to pass the amendment succeeds, the debate shows it's not safe to assume the United States will keep it's promises.
So now, on top of everything else wrong with Congress, they let one Senator, because of a different matter, cause the United States to fail to keep it's promise to these people.
Why is it possible for ONE person to stop the entire country from following a path it choses to follow because they are having a political hissy fit?
Congress is made up of small minded people who have lost their souls.
Even if this new attempt to pass the amendment succeeds, the debate shows it's not safe to assume the United States will keep it's promises.
So now, on top of everything else wrong with Congress, they let one Senator, because of a different matter, cause the United States to fail to keep it's promise to these people.
Why is it possible for ONE person to stop the entire country from following a path it choses to follow because they are having a political hissy fit?
Congress is made up of small minded people who have lost their souls.
5
Once again, this nation's long and contemptible history of using people for our "mission du jour" comes back to besmirch our specious claims of "exceptionalism." It is contemptible that we have abandoned those who have literally risked their lives to help us, but George H.W. Bush did this to the Kurds, and there are many other such examples, including our abandonment of the Vietnamese. The GOTP's reliance upon stoking xenophobia and racism rears its ugly head, yet again - it is fear of those "immigrant others" upon which this morally bankrupt party has founded its otherwise non-existent platform. Let us step up and do what is right, for a change - around the globe, and provide immediate assistance, VISA's, and anything else necessary to secure the safety of these courageous people.
15
Too bad we can't apply this same standard to anyone seeking elected or appointive office here in the US.
Imagine:
"under rigorous screening and can demonstrate at least two years of faithful and valuable service."
Congress and the federal bureaucracy would be replaced every 2 years!
Imagine:
"under rigorous screening and can demonstrate at least two years of faithful and valuable service."
Congress and the federal bureaucracy would be replaced every 2 years!
48
just so, to root out those for whom "service" means lining up with special interest promoters,
and the same the for immigration, rigor, disappearing from nearly everything, from schooling to congressional effort, would serve far better than simply banning anyone, fanning bigotry, (which rather blinds than illuminates).
the absence of rigor, (complacency if you like), is what allowed the orlando shooter to leave such a trail of clues to his discontent that mosque mates, co-workers, shop keepers etc., spoke up...to already closed minds.
and the same the for immigration, rigor, disappearing from nearly everything, from schooling to congressional effort, would serve far better than simply banning anyone, fanning bigotry, (which rather blinds than illuminates).
the absence of rigor, (complacency if you like), is what allowed the orlando shooter to leave such a trail of clues to his discontent that mosque mates, co-workers, shop keepers etc., spoke up...to already closed minds.
1
The Republicans in Congress have always believed that our cause in Afghanistan and Iraq was righteous, yet they have no regard for those in those countries who have helped us. They point their finger at Hillary after what happened at Benghazi but fail to see their responsibility in not funding the defense for those diplomatic missions. Why are these people continually reelected?
100
If Hillary's campaign wants to totally decimate and gut that absurd "attack" against her, they should put the existing video footage of her prescient warning testimony at a Congressional hearing, about the significant security risk in under-funding embassy security into a campaign ad. The GOTP is, in fact, fully responsible for that terrible failure - Drumpf's lies notwithstanding. They are reelected because they have successfully gerrymandered an election-proof set of districts, even while the actual vote tallies go against them.
6
My sincere hope is that Senator's Shaheen & McCain will find ways to keep this issue alive till we get it right.
52
This is one issue where liberals and conservatives agree. The WSJ published a similar op-ed a few months ago. I really don't understand why Congress won't support increasing, much less ending, this program.
90
" I really don't understand why Congress won't support increasing, much less ending, this program."
Because this is what today's Republicans do. To borrow from a phrase, There is no soul or heart there.
It should also be noted that EVERY Republican president from 1980 - present under-funded VA and other veterans' related activities and programs...
Because this is what today's Republicans do. To borrow from a phrase, There is no soul or heart there.
It should also be noted that EVERY Republican president from 1980 - present under-funded VA and other veterans' related activities and programs...
3
Happened in Iraq as well. National disgrace. I don't get it.
51
First, there was no promise when we hired these people. Implicit or otherwise. Second, how stupid is it that whenever we do something in another country we have to take the locals (helping us) home with us. Third, this is a clear indicator of a failed policy. That it is even discussed shows that we are in the wrong place and not doing the right thing. This is false honor and false charity. These interpreters need to stay in their country and work to make that better.
The writer has obviously never fought in a war zone as I have where these people put their lives (and their families lives on) the line because they believe that American help is the only way to free their country. Yet at the end of every war we continue to cut these people lose to fend for themselves in often brutal circumstances-we (and they) never learn
4
I think this response is amazingly arrogant and lacks any understanding of the realities in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2
I guess you missed the paragraph that begins with:
"The threat to these Afghans is all too real. Because of their service to our country, they and their families are being hunted down by the Taliban."
. . . as you sit in your comfortable armchair in California.
"The threat to these Afghans is all too real. Because of their service to our country, they and their families are being hunted down by the Taliban."
. . . as you sit in your comfortable armchair in California.
4
Somehow we as a nation (or at least our elected representatives) have lost any sense of honor. Our commitment to the Afghanis who helped us should be as large as their assistance was.
It is one thing to hold up a bill like the Farm Bill as a ploy to horse trade, but this is simply shameful.
It is one thing to hold up a bill like the Farm Bill as a ploy to horse trade, but this is simply shameful.
40
Congress likes playing war, but doesn't like paying the bills or keeping it's promises to those who do the actual fighting as witnessed by Agent Orange victims, VA underfunding, and now this. Bring back the draft and send congressional members' kids to war first, that should stop it.
73
If you want to stop unnecessary wars we need to implement a war tax till the war is over. If the warmongers had to pay up say 10% of their gross I bet they would be very quiet.
6
Unfortunately, the draft didn't work like that. The history speaks for itself. While there were exceptions, the lower and middle classes paid the majority of the price(s).
1
In today's American culture, honor is apparently an archaic and outmoded concept. Our politicians seem to fully embrace Lenin's "The end justifies the means." When I was a much younger man, I served in Vietnam on a MACV Advisory Team. I depended on the local Vietnamese for my very life. Our nation's cowardly abandonment of them still haunts me. On one hand, we wonder why other people and nations distrust our motives --- while on the the other, we contemplate abandoning those who risked their lives to help us. Please, this time let us reach down deep and find a little honor!
152
Excellent article and it's a shame our Cingress reneged on their promise. If I were an Afghan interpreter next time it would be "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. And it's obvious a guy like Mike Lee has no skin in the game.
17
It looks as though this will end up in the hands of the next President. If it dies now, perhaps it can be resurrected later. That said, our history in Afghanistan is terribly suspect and watching the preparation for the next election unfold, progress in any direction seems a remote dream.
7
Traitors to Afghanistan might prove to be traitors elsewhere. Give them money and find them in a home in a country that requires a visa to come to the US.
"Traitors to Afghanistan". This sage comment suggests that the Taliban = Afghanistan. It seems that I've read that some Afghans don't want to be ruled by religious fanatics who throw acid on girls and burn schools.
4
They worked with ALLIES of the Afghan government, with its approval.
So who you callin' traitors?
So who you callin' traitors?
4
Really? Trying to overthrow the Taliban and bring some semblance of order to the country is being a traitor? I guess our founding fathers must have been traitors.
5
"it was blocked by just one senator, Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, who held the amendment hostage to get a vote on an unrelated issue"—and why do the Senate rules allow a single Senator to block action? You want to know why ordinary Americans are outraged about government dysfunction—here's a prime example. The Senate could reform itself to be a more functional body. But the Senators would rather keep archaic rules that enhance their individual egos.
94
My brother was in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. just a few years ago. His life and those of others on his base might well have been helped by these translators. Lee is a coward.
5
And why does Mike Lee's name so often appear as the one person shutting down the process in this and other situations? This guy's ego and self perceived intelligence is as big as Utah.
5
Leave it to congress to swat flies with a sledge hammer. In their eagerness to pose as protectors of our national security, many members of congress, especially republicans, are too busy to distinguish our friends from our enemies. It's pathetic.
18
In reply to SUBO, we went into Afghanistan in response to a government that was harboring people like Obama Bin Laden and were stupid enough to ignore US requests to turn him over. We stayed for too long, threw too much money down a corrupt rathole, lost too many American limbs and lives fighting to give these people the chance to pull themselves into the 20th century. But at the base of things, the men in charge there too corrupt, too clannish, too Islamic to make anything better out of their country. So, all these Afghan men come up to Europe with hope of lying their way into asylum. They ALL served the US and NATO--or say they did and now are pursued by the Taliban. Most have forged documents saying they did, also. Why, after 15 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of US and NATO casualties--do these people deserve safe passage--or anything else. This is not a broken promise. Stay and fix your problems. If they still have a corrupt third-world society, stay home and fix it. This is just another facet of this refugee hoax. If the US started admitting every Afghan who supposedly served with US/NATO, we would have millions of supposed victims--all bearing the same forged documents. Like the 200000 Afghans who walked into Europe last year.
3
"Obama" Bin Laden. Really? That slip of the lip calls into question your arguments.
3
On what factual basis do you rest your claims of forged documents, etc? Rants by far-right talk radio comics?
These people have been screened by the US. They have American troops backing up their claims. Do you think our troops are pathological liars?
These people have been screened by the US. They have American troops backing up their claims. Do you think our troops are pathological liars?
3
Why would anyone trust or work for Americans if this is how we treat them? Shameful but not surprising considering how the those in power treat our own citizens.
72
The US has a shameful history of abandoning foreign help whenever they needed it most.
The only difference this time is that the US seems to have calculated that these people will migrate into the social security systems of the EU as refugees.
Already Afghans are one of the biggest groups of migrants towards the EU.
So, problem solved and costs transferred, case closed.
Ahh yes, there is one more thing to do, have Obama or Kerry deliver a soft spoken demand to the EU to care for all those poor Afghans the US has abandoned on Humanitarian grounds.
It is business as usual for the the US, attack illegally, kill, maim, destroy and then run away and let others deal with the fallout.
The only difference this time is that the US seems to have calculated that these people will migrate into the social security systems of the EU as refugees.
Already Afghans are one of the biggest groups of migrants towards the EU.
So, problem solved and costs transferred, case closed.
Ahh yes, there is one more thing to do, have Obama or Kerry deliver a soft spoken demand to the EU to care for all those poor Afghans the US has abandoned on Humanitarian grounds.
It is business as usual for the the US, attack illegally, kill, maim, destroy and then run away and let others deal with the fallout.
43
Already Afghans are one of the biggest groups of migrants towards the EU-- They are, but they would probably be the largest group even if all these contractors were taken care of. These people did not get abandoned. Every middle class family in Afghan sent their oldest son--and paid for it--in the hopes of getting into the EU welfare state. The only reason they are here and not in the US is because the EU is closer and stupidly allowed a horde of illegal migrants to wander in last year. Afghans seem to think the world owes them a living--as if a trillion dollars--most stolen by a corrupt government--and a few thousand US lives are not enough. This will go on--a country living on welfare and the good graces of naive western donor countries.
2
Thank you for your persistent efforts on this issue. Irrespective of the politics of why and how we're operating in Afghanistan, Afghans who work for the USA deserve to live safely, now and always.
25
"But why would anyone agree to help the United States if we have a record of breaking our promises and abandoning those who assist us?"
as we continue our slide, our dereliction of the duty framed by the declaration of independence, the preamble and the constitution, the answer is easy to see: once the money runs out, no one will even return our phone calls.
senator lee is just the dodo du jour, but he'll serve as a poster boy for the entire cadre of self and special interested electeds who have nullified the democratic process...now shaming itself as one political party sits in the house of the people to disrupt the stranglehold the other has on the simple matter doing its job, voting on legislation...and so is our dysfunction advertised to the world, (although anyone paying attention knows that we have been infantile our uncritical pursuit of short term gratification - which gave us the shah, saddam, the libyan chaos, etc. - without a care for the consequences, whether they be of state or person - the afghan interpreters and, of course all the dead and still dying).
with all due respect senator shaheen, the lot of the congress ought to be discharged for non- or mal-feasance and replaced by citizens not beholden to any interest other than "the general Welfare."
as we continue our slide, our dereliction of the duty framed by the declaration of independence, the preamble and the constitution, the answer is easy to see: once the money runs out, no one will even return our phone calls.
senator lee is just the dodo du jour, but he'll serve as a poster boy for the entire cadre of self and special interested electeds who have nullified the democratic process...now shaming itself as one political party sits in the house of the people to disrupt the stranglehold the other has on the simple matter doing its job, voting on legislation...and so is our dysfunction advertised to the world, (although anyone paying attention knows that we have been infantile our uncritical pursuit of short term gratification - which gave us the shah, saddam, the libyan chaos, etc. - without a care for the consequences, whether they be of state or person - the afghan interpreters and, of course all the dead and still dying).
with all due respect senator shaheen, the lot of the congress ought to be discharged for non- or mal-feasance and replaced by citizens not beholden to any interest other than "the general Welfare."
6
I guess you and Senator McCain don't get it.
America became involved in Afghanistan as a "side show" while President Bush and his Neo-Con henchmen wanted the "big" prize, Iraq.
Now your buddy Senator McCain is busy blaming Mr. Obama for this mess.
Quite simply, it's a GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE run Congress and if they can save a few pence making them look good to their 1% benefactors, then, for sure, the Afghan translators will be "thrown to the dogs".
As for "haunting images" how about the American soldiers coming back in body bags or horribly wounded in this never ending conflict?
The price paid by the unfortunates who co-operated with the Americans is the same as any that helped in Vietnam; abandoned to their fate by an uncaring American government.
But everybody over here can still get gas for their SUVs and, really, wasn't THAT what it was all about?
America became involved in Afghanistan as a "side show" while President Bush and his Neo-Con henchmen wanted the "big" prize, Iraq.
Now your buddy Senator McCain is busy blaming Mr. Obama for this mess.
Quite simply, it's a GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE run Congress and if they can save a few pence making them look good to their 1% benefactors, then, for sure, the Afghan translators will be "thrown to the dogs".
As for "haunting images" how about the American soldiers coming back in body bags or horribly wounded in this never ending conflict?
The price paid by the unfortunates who co-operated with the Americans is the same as any that helped in Vietnam; abandoned to their fate by an uncaring American government.
But everybody over here can still get gas for their SUVs and, really, wasn't THAT what it was all about?
11
Here we have a democratic member of the Senate asking her fellow Americans to support a moral obligation to those who have risked their lives for an American cause.
Considering the current track record for Congress, the writer is asking for a much higher level of decency than her institution itself has demonstrated for years.
She's right. We should all set aside our reservations about the performance of Congress and step forward to help those that helped us!
Considering the current track record for Congress, the writer is asking for a much higher level of decency than her institution itself has demonstrated for years.
She's right. We should all set aside our reservations about the performance of Congress and step forward to help those that helped us!
17
Not all of our causes were worthy.
3
This is how you define democracy, so sad. Why enter, make a complete mess, put lives of American soldiers and scores of locals who help them in jeopardy ?
3
I hope everyone who reads this and is outraged as I am will also contact their Senators. Maybe a public push will work.
12
Denying these Afghans entry into the US through special immigrant visa would not only amount to a breach of trust but might also force many of them to join the extremists'ranks for self defence.
61
This is a completely negative thought Professor. This is what Muslims mention all the time in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc wherever America is involved neck deep.
I am aware that breach of trust makes these people very sad and cause lot of problems to them. Further they might try to get out of their country by whatever means available as is done by millions of Muslim refugees for quite sometime to save their lives.
The same thought as mentioned by you is repeated quite often by the Congressmen while continuing millions of dollars aid to Pakistan from time to time on the pretext that Pakistan is a nuclear country and that there is every possibility of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of terrorists.
I am aware that breach of trust makes these people very sad and cause lot of problems to them. Further they might try to get out of their country by whatever means available as is done by millions of Muslim refugees for quite sometime to save their lives.
The same thought as mentioned by you is repeated quite often by the Congressmen while continuing millions of dollars aid to Pakistan from time to time on the pretext that Pakistan is a nuclear country and that there is every possibility of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of terrorists.
3
Shivaram Pochiraju, I agree with the logic you advanced about how some Muslims often threaten the US to attract attention and extract material advantage. Thanks.
2
Thanks Professor for appreciating my view.
1
Serve the U.S and basically get thrown to the dogs. And who says U.S politics is not cynical and Machievellian? Probably no one.
72
We entered Afghanistan without thinking of the consequences of a long, protracted war. Now, we anticipate leaving without caring about those who chose to help our troops at great risk to their lives and the lives of their families. It's time to step up and do what's right. Shame on anyone who doesn't care about these people enough to make sure they have safe passage to the U.S.
105
what a horror
2
They were well=paid (like Benedict Arnold).
No, not shame on anyone. Shame on those who have started the war and continued it and now try to impose the costs on all.
4
Our government won't even take care of our own veterans, so why should anyone be surprised that it won't honor an implicit commitment to Afghans who risked their lives in service to our country?
We are increasingly becoming a "bad neighbor" in the international community; selfish, unreasonable, ignorant, and apparently without a sense of obligation to anyone, not even our own people or communities.
We are increasingly becoming a "bad neighbor" in the international community; selfish, unreasonable, ignorant, and apparently without a sense of obligation to anyone, not even our own people or communities.
164
If a duly authorized representative of America makes a promise to protect and keep safe those who risk their lives and that of their family to help and keep safe Americans, then that is what America must do and do without delay or hesitation. The promise cannot be unmade nor does it require the permission or approval of others to be maintained, changed or taken back.
Especially when doing so means Lives will be lost as they already have been.As it is the delays in helping these people and doing what was said would be done has led to thousands of Men, Women and Children living in fear and terror, scared to leave their homes in fear of their lives.
Congress should not have the power to make a mockery of America's promise and commitment and of ensuring people whose lives are under constant threat and who live in fear every day, will also be killed all because they bravely helped America and it's soldiers in their mission.
Such a high price to pay for serving America and it is a Crime that Congress has condemned so many of them to a horrible fate for providing that help.
And America wonders why so many people hate and want to hurt them?
The single issue covered by this article gives you 10,000 reasons as to why.