first member of the administration of President Barack Obama who resigned in protest against U.S. war
Matthew Hoh, a State Department official with responsibility for Afghanistan, is the first member of the administration of President Barack Obama who resigned in protest against U.S. war in that country, reported Tuesday by The Washington Post.
"I do not understand nor do I have confidence in the purposes strategic U.S. presence in Afghanistan, "Hoh wrote on September 10 in a letter to Chief of Staff of the Department of State.
"I have doubts and reservations about our recent strategy and our strategy planned for the future, but my resignation was based not on how we conduct this war, but why and for what purpose," he added.
Hoh, a former captain in the Marines with combat experience in Iraq, he served as uniform at the Pentagon, then as a civilian in Iraq and, since January, the Department of State.
Last July, the Post reported, Hoh became the U.S. civil servant highest-ranking official in the Afghan province of Zabul, which has a strong presence of the Taliban.
"Last month, Hoh, 36, became the first U.S. official known to resignation in protest against the Afghan war, he believes, has strengthened the insurgency," the newspaper said.
The reaction to the letter of Hoh was immediate, the paper said "the highest ranking U.S. officials, concerned about the loss of an outstanding staff that could become a prominent critic, asked him to remain in office."
U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, "Hoh moved to Kabul and offered him a position at the embassy. Hoh did not accept the offer. From there he was taken to a face to face meeting with Richard Holbrooke, the special representative of the Government of Afghanistan and Pakistan Obama. " Hoh
The letter was taken "very seriously and, given its commitment and its antecedents, we believe that we should pay close attention," Holbrooke told the newspaper.
Holbrooke noted that although no Hoh accept the view "that is not worth fighting this war," he does agree with much of the analysis done by the retiring official. Hoh
says many Afghans fighting against the United States simply because there are U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and because Washington supports a corrupt government.
According to Hoh, "while the Taliban are an evil presence and you have to fight Al Qaeda in Pakistan, the United States asked his soldiers to die in Afghanistan for what is essentially a distant civil war," the Post .
President Obama continues his consultations with military commanders and civilian experts from the Government on an increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, invaded the country eight years ago and in which there are now about 60,000 U.S. soldiers.
"I want people in Iowa, Arkansas, people in Arizona, across the country call their representatives in Congress and tell them: 'Hey, I think this is wrong', "Hoh said the newspaper.
"I do not understand nor do I have confidence in the purposes strategic U.S. presence in Afghanistan, "Hoh wrote on September 10 in a letter to Chief of Staff of the Department of State.
"I have doubts and reservations about our recent strategy and our strategy planned for the future, but my resignation was based not on how we conduct this war, but why and for what purpose," he added.
Hoh, a former captain in the Marines with combat experience in Iraq, he served as uniform at the Pentagon, then as a civilian in Iraq and, since January, the Department of State.
Last July, the Post reported, Hoh became the U.S. civil servant highest-ranking official in the Afghan province of Zabul, which has a strong presence of the Taliban.
"Last month, Hoh, 36, became the first U.S. official known to resignation in protest against the Afghan war, he believes, has strengthened the insurgency," the newspaper said.
The reaction to the letter of Hoh was immediate, the paper said "the highest ranking U.S. officials, concerned about the loss of an outstanding staff that could become a prominent critic, asked him to remain in office."
U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, "Hoh moved to Kabul and offered him a position at the embassy. Hoh did not accept the offer. From there he was taken to a face to face meeting with Richard Holbrooke, the special representative of the Government of Afghanistan and Pakistan Obama. " Hoh
The letter was taken "very seriously and, given its commitment and its antecedents, we believe that we should pay close attention," Holbrooke told the newspaper.
Holbrooke noted that although no Hoh accept the view "that is not worth fighting this war," he does agree with much of the analysis done by the retiring official. Hoh
says many Afghans fighting against the United States simply because there are U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and because Washington supports a corrupt government.
According to Hoh, "while the Taliban are an evil presence and you have to fight Al Qaeda in Pakistan, the United States asked his soldiers to die in Afghanistan for what is essentially a distant civil war," the Post .
President Obama continues his consultations with military commanders and civilian experts from the Government on an increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, invaded the country eight years ago and in which there are now about 60,000 U.S. soldiers.
"I want people in Iowa, Arkansas, people in Arizona, across the country call their representatives in Congress and tell them: 'Hey, I think this is wrong', "Hoh said the newspaper.
SOURCE: EFE.
