More, not fewer, troops in Afghanistan

In reference to The Sun's editorial, "Unfriendly fire" (Aug. 22), I am in complete disagreement with the claim that maybe it's time to consider speeding up the timetable for bringing all of our troops home from Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.

We must never forget that the planning for, and carrying out of Sept. 11 originated in Afghanistan and, in my opinion, the U.S. and NATO forces must never withdraw our military forces from this area. If we did, it would provide the Middle East radicals, including al-Qaida and the Taliban, with the perfect opportunity to plan and fulfill a stronger strike against the U.S. than Sept. 11. This would result as a giant step toward the radicals' earlier announcement that their life's aim was to annihilate every freedom individual from the face of the earth.

If anything, I believe the U.S. and NATO should station more military troops and equipment in this area and keep them there as long as needed, in order to assure the world that our intention is to protect the salvation of our interests and responsibilities in the region in order to preserve our democratic way of life, and also in the hopes that some day Afghanistan would adopt a democratic form of government.

Quinton D. Thompson, Towson