Thank you for your Aug. 9 package of articles “Will they ever be ready?” (“Tough transition: Afghan forces show little in the way of progress as time draws closer for security handoff,” front page). I was pleasantly surprised at such blunt and honest reporting.

As I was reading through these articles, I couldn’t help but wonder how and why such little progress has been made in 10 years here in Afghanistan. Our enemy here possesses a few inaccurate rockets and the AK-47 rifle; the United States has state-of-the-art military technology. Every day I have watched as drones, fighters and cargo planes take off from Kandahar Air Field, and I can’t help but think about the fact that the Taliban/al-Qaida have none of these assets — yet we are losing. Why?

Why was the recent rescue attempt where 30 U.S. servicemembers lost their lives a complete failure?

Perhaps I could understand all of this if we were fighting the former Soviet Union — but not an ill-equipped, unorganized group of depraved terrorists. It’s no wonder then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates came over here and cried — I feel like crying too! But what is even more interesting is that no one is being held accountable for this failed attempt to fight a war.

One thing I know, it is not the soldiers on the ground who are responsible – they are fighting with honor in spite of the fact that some are being charged with murder back home. We could blame NATO, but this is really our war — the United States of America.

Perhaps the commander in chief should consider admitting to his incompetence and do the honorable thing and step down (along with his current administration).

William W. Patterson

Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan

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