Page 2 - AT

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 2 March 2020

`Let's go home': Afghan war vets torn on U.S.-Taliban deal

Continued from Front

Though doubtful the Tali-
ban will abide by the
peace deal, Blackburn
said he's ready for hostilities
to end.
He first deployed to Af-
ghanistan in 2004 with an
infantry unit of the Army's
10th Mountain Division. A
decade later, his son head-
ed overseas for the same
fight.
"Anything that would get
us out of that country, I will
support fully," said Black-
burn, 58, who left the Army
in 2010.
Other Afghanistan veter-
ans interviewed by The As-
sociated Press said that,
while the peace deal may
not be perfect, it's time to
end the war that began
weeks after the 9/11 terror
attacks.
The toll has been heavy.
More than 2,300 U.S. serv-
ice members have been
killed and more than 20,600
others wounded in Afghan- In this Dec. 25, 2019, file photo, an Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael
istan since the war began Goble at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Goble, a U.S. Special Forces soldier who died in Afghanistan in December 2019.
in October 2001. Associated Press
Former Sgt. Michael Car-
rasquillo served as an infan- never thought they could 2012 to assist U.S. special army for another country. run a supply warehouse
trymen in the Army's 173rd be trustworthy," said Cmdr. operations forces. She said So I do believe there has for U.S. forces in Afghani-
Airborne Brigade when Tom Porter of the U.S. Navy protecting women's rights been a lot of good that's stan. Returning as a civilian
his unit was ambushed in Reserve, who oversaw me- and human rights overall come out of it," he said. contractor five years later,
Afghanistan in 2005. Shot dia operations in Afghani- needs to be a priority. There's no hesitation from he concluded little had
five times while dragging stan during the U.S.-led Overall, Miller said, she's Chris Collins, a former Army changed.
a wounded comrade to troop surge that began in thrilled to see a chance for Reservist, when asked if it's "Let's go home," said Col-
safety, Carrasquillo spent 2010. Afghanistan to break from time for a U.S. exit. lins, now training to be a
the next two years in the "I know they have a differ- its long history of perpetual "It's not worth one more nurse.
hospital and underwent ent view of time and history war. American life," said Collins, "We can't stay there for-
dozens of surgeries. than we do." "There is this new generation 38. "Enough is enough." ever. They don't want us
"Peace in any way, shape Porter said he's concerned and I think it's really time to Collins' unit from Missouri there. It's no different today
or form is a good thing," said the Taliban could abide by unlock that hope and op- deployed to neighbor- than it was 18 years ago,
Carrasquillo, 36, of Monro- the accord long enough to timism of Afghans that are ing Uzbekistan in 2004 to essentially."q
via, Maryland, who leads a see American forces leave, really open to peace," she
support group for wound- then try to wrest control of said. "What's the alterna-
ed veterans through the Afghanistan under an as- tive to peace? This endless
Wounded Warrior Project. sumption the U.S. won't be cycle of violence doesn't
"We don't want more guys willing to return for another really lead anywhere."
to die or to get injured." fight. At Fort Stewart in south-
The peace plan calls for "If you're the Taliban, peo- east Georgia, Army Staff
the Trump administration ple have come and gone Sgt. Phillip Wright thinks
to initially draw down U.S. and invaded that place of himself as "one of the
troop levels in Afghanistan for thousands of years," older guys" at age 33. He
from 13,000 to 8,600, with said Porter, head of gov- deployed to Kabul in 2010
the remaining American ernment affairs in Wash- with a field artillery unit to
forces withdrawing in 14 ington for the group Iraq help train Afghanistan's
months. and Afghanistan Veter- army.
In return, the Taliban prom- ans of America. "Genghis Nowadays, Wright works
ise not to let extremists use Khan has come and gone. alongside many young
the country to stage at- They've got a long view of American soldiers who've
tacks on the U.S. or its al- things." never been overseas. He
lies. The Taliban and repre- Former Army Capt. Emily thinks it's time for Afghani-
sentatives from Kabul must Miller's job focused on com- stan's military to stand on
negotiate a framework for municating with Afghan its own after years of U.S.
a postwar Afghanistan. women and children on mentoring.
"I know the Taliban, and I deployments in 2011 and "We were able to train an