Opinions. I Like To Share Mine

I mailed off a letter to the Editor of the Indianapolis Star today. Here’s what it said.

Dec 3, 2009
Indianapolis Star
307 North Pennsylvania Street
PO Box 145
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1819
Dear Indianapolis Star,

To the editor:
On Tuesday night, I was very disappointed to hear from President Obama that our country is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.   I imagine that many were saddened by the announcement as I was, however the coverage and opinions presented following Mr. Obama's speech did not reflect those opinions.

The U.S. and allies have sent troops to Afghanistan for 8 years now, with little to show for it but the immense human cost of war.  What will 30,000 more troops accomplish that tens of thousands of troops over eight years have not?

I wanted to hear the President call for a new vision of security,
rooted in bold, new ideas rather than more of the same.  Given that the White House budget director says that it costs taxpayers $1 million for every soldier sent to Afghanistan, we cannot afford this war.  Instead, we should invest in jobs and in the U.S. while pursuing diplomacy and civilian reconstruction to improve conditions on Afghanistan.

Then we will be investing in improving  lives, rather than continuing a failed war policy.

Sincerely,