Ex-Marine: Afghan War Not Worth Fighting

Former official explains why he resigned his post in protest

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2009 7:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – When Matthew Hoh resigned in protest last month, it sent a small tremor through the Pentagon and White House. Hoh, an ex-marine, was the US’ top civilian in Zabul province, until he reached the conclusion that the war wasn’t worth fighting. “My resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing the war,” he wrote in his letter, “but why and to what end.” The US presence in Afghanistan is only fueling the insurgency, exacerbating a distant civil war, he argues.

“I’m not some peacenik, pot-smoking hippie who wants everyone to be in love,” Hoh tells the Washington Post. The administration offered him a job in the embassy at Kabul, and flew him to Washington to meet with Richard Holbrooke, who disagreed with his conclusions, he said, but "agreed with much of his analysis." Holbrooke tried to hire him, too—but Hoh declined. “It wasn’t the right thing to do,” he said. “I want people in Iowa, people in Arkansas, people in Arizona, to call their congressman and say, ‘Listen, I don’t think this is right.’”

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

A coalition soldier in Afghanistan. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We want to have some kind of governance there, and we have some obligation for it not to be a bloodbath. But you have to draw the line somewhere, and say this is their problem to solve. - Matthew Hoh

A group in this valley here has no connection with an insurgent group two kilometers away. I thought it was more nationalistic. But it's localism. I would call it valley-ism. - Matthew Hoh

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

(NEWSER) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Pakistan today, one day after telling the Wall Street Journal that his country has entered into three-way peace talks with the Taliban and the US. Karzai is in Pakistan to discuss the negotiations and request that country's help; Islamabad's cooperation is necessary, since Taliban fighters have reportedly been receiving support from Pakistan, the New York Times notes. The recent talks signal a breakthrough, considering the Taliban has up until now insisted it would not negotiate with Karzai's "puppet regime." More»

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

(NEWSER) - Newly qualified Apache helicopter pilot Prince Harry is expected to return to Afghanistan for a tour of duty this year, and the people he might be shooting at aren't happy about it. "A prince should use his position to help people, not to come and kill people around the world," a Taliban spokesman tells the Telegraph . Harry, whose training included a stint in the US , is expected to serve as a co-pilot gunner in a two-man crew. More»

CIA Fills Void in Iraq, Afghanistan

Agency expects to maintain large stations there for years

(NEWSER) - US troops may be leaving Iraq and Afghanistan, but the CIA isn't. The agency's stations in the two countries may see staffing levels fall off a bit, but they'll remain its biggest overseas locations for years, officials tell the Washington Post . The Obama administration is counting on the spies, along with Special Operations forces, to protect US interests as troops depart. "I would say the agency will be the last to leave," says one CIA veteran. "We were the first to get there." More»

US Drones Return to Hit Rescuers, Funerals

Strikes occurring every 4 days under Obama: report

(NEWSER) - A few days back, President Obama said that US drone attacks in Pakistan had "not caused a huge number of civilian casualties." But a Bureau of Investigative Journalism report finds that somewhere between 282 and 535 civilians, including 60 children, have been "credibly reported" killed in the campaign. Secondary strikes target groups of rescuers shortly after attacks, while other drones have killed dozens at funerals. Obama has drastically escalated the drone program; some 260 strikes have occurred an average of once every four days under his administration. More»

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

(NEWSER) - The United States may be wrapping up its combat operations in Afghanistan a year early, but the fight against insurgents and terrorists will continue in the form of US special forces, who are expected to stay in the country well after 2014, reports the New York Times . According to the Pentagon's plan, which has not yet been greenlighted by President Obama, conventional forces would be the first to withdraw from Afghanistan, but thousands of special forces would continue, or perhaps grow, especially Green Berets. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Ex-Marine: Afghan War Not Worth Fighting