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By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Why we in Kamloops should be mad as hell about Afghanistan

Aug 23, 2021 | 4:34 AM

KAMLOOPS — IT’S VERY SELDOM that I write about events happening on the other side of the world but the Afghanistan fiasco hits close to the heart and closer to home than we might think.

We’ve all seen those gut-wrenching videos of panicked Afghans trying to escape the country before the Taliban impose a return to strict Sharia law. Meanwhile, thousands of non-Afghan citizens — including Canadians — desperately hope for rescue.

It’s impossible not to be mad as hell over this totally avoidable crisis. And the blame sits squarely on the shoulders of President Joe Biden, who tries to cover his own political butt by insisting that ending the American involvement in Afghanistan couldn’t possibly have been accomplished without chaos.

Joe, what on Earth were you thinking? You can blame it all on Donald Trump, who negotiated a deal with the Taliban to pull U.S. troops. But it was Joe Biden who signed off on a withdrawal without making certain that not only Afghans who had helped the U.S. and its allies, but also American citizens and friendlies, were able to escape first.

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For once, Donald Trump is right about something — that this is a humiliation not only for Joe Biden but for the United States.

Biden’s actions on Afghanistan, and his refusal to acknowledge his mistake, have dashed the hope we all had for his presidency. In his most important hour, he is a failure. His term will be forever defined by it.

This needs to be an election issue here at home because Justin Trudeau has much to answer for on Canada’s own late-comer role in this catastrophe. Let’s not forget that Canada supported the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan for 13 years. Forty thousand members of our armed forces served there, helped by Afghan citizens we’re now leaving behind. Kamloops soldiers were wounded there. Master Corporal Erin Doyle died there.

What a sad end to their brave legacy.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.