Shame on Biden for disastrous withdrawal
God help our fellow Americans, trapped in Afghanistan without rescue directives or communication.
God help our Afghan allies by whose side we fought for so many years. God help the women and children left behind, who are vulnerable to murder, repression and slavery.
Should we have left Afghanistan? That is a separate question that can be debated. It’s certainly been a difficult situation for presidents for several years.
However, more relevant today is how this haphazard withdrawal took place.
Why weren’t Americans a priority in the evacuation? What happened to “leave no one behind”?
We are all Americans (regardless of political or religious affiliation), therefore our citizenship should ensure an implicit loyalty.
Why are Americans left to risk their lives trying to get to an airport with no support?
Why were promises made and then broken to our Afghan allies? Why was our superior equipment left behind?
Why was the advice of military leaders who have set protocols, strategies and contingencies ignored?
How did we think a complete takeover by terrorists could be healthy worldwide?
This was an administrative debacle. A strong leader would make it clear to the Taliban that every American must be accounted for and safely evacuated, or else feel the full force of our military prowess.
Our position in the world as a superpower is now sadly compromised. America is being viewed as weak and incompetent. This rogue decision excluded our NATO allies and, as a result, is creating a growing resentment and distrust with them.
A dangerous portal to enemy combatants has opened, and other malicious superpowers and bad actors are already getting involved. The world is now a more-dangerous place.
Shame on Biden, and any leadership whose hands hold the guilt and far-reaching implications of this cruel and thoughtless abandonment.
Kathleen Snoderly
Morgantown
Don’t tout income tax repeal without evidence
I was excited to see the essay by Delegate Householder about the “opportunity” for West Virginia, given its decline in population. But I was disappointed because I expected to see some details about how to stem out-migration and attract returning or new residents. He provided no evidence for his claim that repealing the state income tax will do the job.
A quick internet search of why people move, especially from one state to another, shows the main reason is for work, followed by family issues. That is similar to my situation. I moved to West Virginia for work and to be closer to my family in Ohio. I never thought about the state’s tax situation. Now that I’m retired, I would still never consider moving to a state just because it had no income tax. We know people have left West Virginia for jobs elsewhere; they aren’t considering tax policy either.
Householder talks about trimming the budget but again offers no details about where his cuts would occur. My fear is cuts would reduce environmental protection and help for citizens, which are important for a good quality of life. Quality of life is something that could attract people to our state.
He also says “taxes should be restructured to be more broadly and fairly applied.” Again, there are no details. Given that income taxes are progressive, when compared to regressive sales taxes that hurt those with lower incomes, I can’t imagine how he can achieve this. He says he doesn’t want to “shift the tax burden down the economic ladder,” but his proposals would do just that.
The W.Va. Center on Budget and Policy has researched the impact of state taxes on interstate moves and potential impacts of eliminating West Virginia’s income tax. If Delegate Householder doesn’t want to read its results, he should do his own research and provide some details and evidence his proposals will truly be good for the state.
Enough repetition of generalizations with nothing to back them up. Show us you have done your homework if you want our support.
Cheryl Brown
Morgantown
In spite of critics, U.S. right to support Israel
I can’t speak to all the issues raised by Joseph M. Mazgaj in his Aug. 23 essay, but his remarks about Israel are misleading and disturbing.
Yes, America mostly supports Israel; and yes, America pays a diplomatic price for this support. Israel is an imperfect democracy, but it is remarkable how quick dictatorships and their admirers are to scapegoat Israel for all the problems of the Middle East — even the Far East, as in Mr. Mazgaj’s column.
We often hear that the Palestinian problem could be resolved if only Israel would yield the West Bank and Gaza to a Palestinian state. As it happens, Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak offered precisely that in 2000-01, as the culmination of the Oslo Peace Process. The Palestinians said no.
I can’t discern what Mr. Mazgaj thinks Israel should do differently. But I am proud America supports Israel’s right to exist, and stands up to terrorists and extremists overseas.
Rabbi Joe Hample
Morgantown
It’s not what you did, but how you made them feel
I am a current “resident” or patient at a local nursing/rehab center. It is a nice place; the rehab staff is great. I have a broken femur and fractured knee. I’m in a great deal of pain. However, I am improving. I’m in my third week here. I am very self-aware.
I want to share the story about many of the patients here who are not lucid. They sit in the hall near the nurses’ station. They are sad, thoughtful and lonesome. I feel sad for them.
We are on “lockdown” right now, which means no visitation. The activities staff is great here.
People in their everyday lives don’t realize what it must be like in a nursing home. It is a little depressing, but the nursing, therapy and CNAs are wonderful and strive to do their best for us.
I’ve learned something important here. I’ve learned that no one will remember what you said (or did), but they will remember how you made them feel. That’s what it takes.
Ellen Pirlo
Morgantown
The DP needs to look at commissioners’ finances
As The Dominion Post reported last week on Sen. Joe Manchin’s and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s and Sunday about Reps. Mooney’s, Miller’s and McKinley’s financial disclosures, so too should The DP report the financial disclosures of the Mon County commissioners.
After all, the American Rescue Plan Act has allotted Monongalia County $20.5 million and the commissioners have not — unlike the City of Morgantown and Monongalia County Schools — engaged their constituents and communities in developing plans to use these payments, though they should give the scale of funding, and the others are offering a public input process.
The commission offers no transparence, no desire for public input like always. Example: what happened to the $6 million allocated to fix upper River Road and the promise commissioners made to Mon County residents that using Mon County tax dollars to build a Mon County Justice building would be refunded by rent from the West Virginia Supreme Court system, only to charge about half what The Dominion Post articles clearly stated many times in the paper?
Ask The Dominion Post how much rent Mon County residents are losing per year ($60,000 or more, maybe). The Dominion Post periodically reviews the net worth of the state’s congressional delegation. Therefore, The Dominion Post should periodically review (starting now) the Mon County commissioners. Are they, too, getting richer and richer? If so, how? Mon County residents would like to know, I am sure.
Now is the time to request that Mon County Commission be changed from three members to five or seven members. We need professional experts representing Mon County residents and this fast-growing county.
Jerry Cochran
Morgantown
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