Afghanistan

Karma is a bitch, they say.

We still resist having to learn

That our missteps have negative

Results that will happen in turn.

Afghanistan, in 1919,

Drove out the British. A definite win

For the landlocked nation. Sixty years later--

In '79--the Russians moved in.

We armed extremists to fight the Russians.

Now, how could that strategy not

Be effective in the long run?

No skin off our teeth, we thought.

The Russians left. Our job was over.

Afghanistan was in disarray.

Our lack of support for a country in shambles

Surely helped to pave the way

For the Taliban to take control.

Anti-American sentiment grew.

The country became a terrorist haven.

It's useless for us to wish it weren't true.

For the past sixteen years American

Soldiers have fought an ongoing war

Against extremists throughout the country.

The consequences are hard to ignore.

We’ve been stuck in a vicious circle--

A deathly quagmire--a living hell.

To send more troops to a war we can't win

Is not an easy program to sell.

Have all avenues been considered?

Could the region ever be able

To find a peaceful solution by getting

All parties to come to the table?

We've gotten ourselves in a situation

Where little goes according to plan.

Must more people die or be injured

From fighting in Afghanistan?

(8-24-17) By Bob B