On Leaving Afghanistan- Some Thoughts From MFSO Members
When Jeff and I first heard the news that we were given a date certain for all US troops to leave Afghanistan, we were taken aback. After 20 long years of MFSO families working so hard to make this happen and always watchful of approaching deadlines and promises, it’s seems odd to be startled at the news? Even after hearing it officially from President Biden’s own lips, we are still in disbelief. Since that day the MFSO office has been receiving emails from members who have been part of the struggle over the years and who wanted to share their feelings and concerns about what it all means to us as military families. Below are some of the statements we were allowed to share with you. We hope you will send your thoughts too so we can share them.
“It is long past time for the U.S. military role in Afghanistan to end. Military families who have been speaking out for many years to bring our troops home know that this move honors our troops – including those who died as a result of this ‘forever’ war – because continued death, including the deaths of increasing numbers of Afghan civilians, honors no one, and solves no problems. There is much that must happen now, including taking care of our troops coming home with visible and hidden injuries of war, and bringing about a new foreign policy that opposes these occupations and will not hinder the emergence of civilian voices, leaders and the forces who will ultimately bring justice and peace to their own country.”
Nancy Lessin, Co-founder, Military Families Speak Out
I am delighted to hear the news that we will bring home all troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11, 2021. Our cries have been heard! I hope that this will be the first of our troops matching home from all countries we have no business being in! I am cautiously optimistic that this will come to pass but I know the MIC is not happy about it. What shall be, shall be.
Diane Bremer
Mom of active duty son, Army
Red Wing, Minnesota
I feel tremendous relief that the troops are coming home from Afghanistan. I also feel an overwhelming sadness for the men and women who served in Afghanistan; for those who did not come home, were injured (physically or mentally) or committed suicide. I also feel great sadness for the huge losses and suffering the Afghan people endured and will continue to endure in their homeland destroyed by 20 years of war.
As the Afghanistan Papers confirmed, the military and the U.S. government knew early on that the Afghanistan War was a debacle and could not be won. It didn’t understand Afghanistan nor did it have a strategy. Yet, our government and military were unwilling to admit the Afghanistan war could not be won, damn the consequences.
These tragic decisions have destroyed people on all sides, for absolutely no gain. This is shameful. When will we learn that war and violence are not the path to a better world?
Mary Hladky, Mother of Army Infantry Officer who served 13 months, during Obama’s Surge, Zhari District, Kandahar Province
What a terrible and shameful tragedy – the war against Afghanistan. More than 2400 American troops and more than 38,000 Afghan civilians were killed. (NYTimes, 2019) There were many millions of war refugees. There were countless people injured. Moral injury, PTSD and other devastating impacts of war will persist. The poisoning of civilians and military from burn pits, the damage to the environment and people’s health has been horrendous. My heart goes out to other military families and Afghan families whose loved ones were killed or injured. The costs were over $1.5 trillion dollars, not including money spent on medical and disability costs for veterans, all money that should have been spent instead in our communities for education, housing, health care, social services and other human needs. Shame on the elected officials who voted for this war and those who voted to continue funding the war. A salute to the millions of people who marched and demonstrated, lobbied and petitioned both to prevent the war in Afghanistan and to demand an end to the war. We will remain vigilant to make sure that not only the troops come home, but the contractors, the CIA, the Special Forces, must come home, too. We must make sure that absolutely no U.S. drones or other weapons of war will be used in Afghanistan.
Paula Rogovin, mother of an Iraq war veteran
It’s been 20 years now and it’s past time for our troops to come home. I have more faith in President Biden bringing the troops home than I did in the former president. I believe President Biden will make a smooth transition and not make more problems for us. This is a start, but we need all the troops out of the Middle East.
Ed Garza, Former board member
Santa Ana CA
I am relieved that our troops are finally leaving Afghanistan after 20 years, but I’m concerned that we have not learned our lesson about the costs of starting and continuing wars of choice. We should have been out of Afghanistan shortly after we went in. Delta Force spotted Osama Bin Laden leaving the mountain caves for Pakistan after the Battle of Tora Bora but was denied permission to take him out. That would have ended our involvement.
I am now concerned about the future of the Afghanis who helped US forces as translators, etc., and those who tried to bring democracy to Afghanistan. I hope that President Biden will welcome them into the US as refugees as they will be in danger when the Taliban returns to power.
Our wars of choice have destroyed nations (Vietnam and Iraq) while bringing riches to the corporations that supply war. Tens of thousands of our troops have died or are injured from wounds seen or unseen, families have been destroyed. I hope we will not repeat these mistakes.
Anna Berlinrut, Mom of Marine deployed 8 times in harm’s way
Connecticut
I’m heartened by President Biden’s resolve to end the war in Afghanistan. However, I’ll believe it when I see it because other presidents like Bush, (“Mission Accomplished”), Obama and Trump, promised before, but no one has brought them all home yet. But I’m hopeful he will follow through this time. As a military family member himself, I believe Biden really understands the toll war takes on our families more than the other presidents did . He knows what it’s like to wait and wonder. My daughter was injured when she was deployed and we had to wait so long to find out how she was. If you’ve been a military family member long enough you will do whatever it takes to find out how your loved one is.
Lorna Farnum
Daughter deployed to Kosovo
Hawaii
I have cautious optimism regarding brining our troops home. It is past time, that is a worldwide truth. I am holding my breath for every family and friend of a deployed troop. The joy of thinking they will be home soon; is balance with the possibility of retaliation. That is hell. I grieve, I rejoice.
Corla Coles,
Mother in law of Active Duty Army Reserve
Redlands, CA
Oh God. I think it’s a good move and that it’s inevitable. I wonder, are we really getting out? It’s a win for the US, but a tragedy for the Afghani people. As inevitable as this is, it’s unavoidable. Who would have thought that 9/11 would be the beginning of a 20 year war- America’s longest war that would cost $2 trillion, the lives of tens of thousands Afghans -3,502 NATO casualties and over 2, 312 of our US troops. I remember when Bin Laden died, I was in NYC and people we jubilant. I was with them, and then I thought later that I never celebrated someone dying before.
Afghanistan has a corrupt government, there’s no real industry except opium. 70% of Afghans live on a dollar a day, there are few schools, their infrastructure is weak, electricity and water are erratic in the nation’s capital, and I fear women and girls are going to be the ones who will suffer the most. Where does the Taliban get their money? Why aren’t we talking about that? The pain is going to come, but what can you say? You can’t police the whole world, but if we haven’t fixed this in 20 years, we never are going to fix it. After 20 years of presidents saying we’re getting out, the US has no credibility. I’ll believe it when I see it. This announcement is dredging up a lot of emotions right now for veterans and military families.
Don Kimball,
Uncle to Active Duty Marine and veteran
South Portland, ME
As military families whose loved ones/children have been in Afghanistan, we welcome the news that our troops are coming home. We hope that this is just the beginning of troop withdrawals from the Middle East and other countries where we have participated in unjust wars. These wars have endangered the lives of our children and haven’t done anything to protect us.
Rossana Cambron
Mother of action duty Army
Los Angeles, CA
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MFSO T-Shirt Fundraiser
Like many other non-profits, our ability to raise operating funds has been impacted by COVID-19. We had planned on participating in many events this year and have a surplus of t-shirts that we have not been able to sell at our usual tabling events. Please consider helping us spead the word about MFSO and our mission by purchasing and wearing your MFSO T-Shirt!
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Upcoming Events – Summer 2020
On July 18th, 2020, the 18th Annual Peacestock: A Gathering for Peace will take place virtually at 1pm via Zoom. Register here.
What is Peacestock?
Peacestock is a mixture of speakers, activists, and musicians. Peacestock features timely topics and seeks speakers who are well respected on those topics. Browse the archives of previous Peacestock festivals for reference, and watch video of our speakers.
Where can I register for the 2020 virtual event?
Register here: peacestockvfp.org/
Who organizes Peacestock?
Peacestock is sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 115, in Red Wing and Veterans for Peace, Chapter 27, in Minneapolis, and has a peace-themed agenda.
Where can I connect to Peacestock on Social Media?
Facebook users: Please join our Peacestock Facebook page, found at https://facebook.com/
Twitter users: Please follow our Twitter account @peacestock, found at https://twitter.com/
Welcome to the VFP 2020 Online Convention!
We are excited to announce Veterans For Peace’s first Online Convention! We know that many of us will miss being able to greet each other in person but we also know that each and every one of us wants to make sure all of our members are safe and healthy. Convention will take place from August 2nd-9th, with the theme “Human Rights over Nuclear Might”. Since our founding, Veterans For Peace has had it in our goals “to end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons” and the week will mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the first nuclear explosion of all time at the Trinity Site, New Mexico, which occurred on July 16, 1945).
While we are so disappointed to not connect with everyone in person, we also see the amazing opportunity this presents for our organization. We see this as an opportunity to broaden our audience to many folks who have been unable to join us in person and to expand the possibilities of who may be able to participate and present for our workshops. Everyone in New Mexico has been amazingly generous and allowed us to rebook everything for 2021, so we will not miss out on the opportunity to gather in New Mexico next year!
We are busy making plans on an amazing array of workshops and plenaries and even creative ways to incorporate some social times. This year’s convention will highlight work being done to address nuclear weapons as well as nuclear colonialism and broader topics such as what decolonizing the peace movement looks like and highlight some of the amazing work being done within Veterans For Peace. We will be updating this website in the coming months with more information, which will include options on how to learn and navigate the convention technology. We will be doing our best to make sure that everyone who wants to participate will be able to have the technological support needed. Stay tuned for more details!
Signed,
2020 Online Convention Committee
Robert Vivar, MFSO board member and co-founder and co director United US Deported Veterans was interviewed on Via Voices last week. After living 40 years in the US, he was deported in 2014. His son is active duty Army and grandson recently enlisted in the US Marine Corps and so Robert works daily to help veterans before and after they’re deported. Take a listen to his recent interview on Via Voices and share our gratitude for the incredible work of our MFSO board member and humanitarian activist is doing. https://youtu.be/QcTh8jHxnqs