Those interested in reading my take on the disaster in Afghanistan can click on this link to an essay I wrote for Politico magazine. It was published on Aug. 21, 2021. Or you can copy the link and paste it into your browser.
LINK: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/08/21/saigon-vietnam-kabul-afghanistan-505943
Dear Phil, I just read your article “From Saigon to Kabul” this afternoon, after just having finished your book on Vietnam this afternoon, A Rumor of War. Thank you for being the Conscience and Prophetic voice to our country. As you wrote, you endured one senseless war, expressed the gut-wrenching madness of what a soldier in war experiences, and you spoke out clearly about the insanity of these wars, of our country’s blindness and cruelty to our own soldiers and to native peoples in their own countries. (My dad was a Marine in Okinawa in 1945; my lottery number was very high in 1970, and out of some idealism and some guilt, I enlisted in the Catholic Church seminary and priesthood until 1985, and became active in the peace and justice movement. Our warmaking is so sad and depressing but we do need to ‘endure’ and send a Voice, and an alarm, and some hope to our young people. Your experience, your courageous truth-telling, and your endurance offer that voice and alarm and hope to them. Thank you. I respect you so much. Bill Mattia
Thank you for writing, ‘The Temperature in Vietnam is 105’. It was painful to read but true to the core. I often wonder when the U.S. will get it? Ever?
Your essay reminded of me of ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’. I worked on an interview with George Crile that John Seigenthaler hosted. The last funding request Representative Charles Wilson submitted was for building roads and schools in Afghanistan. He got denied $10 million dollars after the U.S. had already spent $1 billion to beat the Russians.
I often wonder if the U.S. would ever have invaded Afghanistan if Charlie had gotten his money to build roads and schools?
Thank you for your essay. It was spot on.
Phil, After reading this piece I only wish the whole world could read this. No western nation can fix the problems in Afghanistan. Only its own people can do this over time.
I have never submitted a comment on anything, but your article was so interesting and so educational, that I had to say ‘thank you’. I love the human side of it, and the stories you told that made it so. I have never read anything else that you have written (mea culpa) – I will correct that immediately. 🙂
Please do, and thank you for the comments.
Good piece…and a reminder of the extraordinary life you have led.
Phil
Your the best
An honor to know
both you and Leslie
tom barker
Thanks, Tom, for reading the piece.
Excellent. Incredibly good. I really wanted your viewpoint on this. Thank you.
And thank you for taking the time to read it. I received your latest letter expressing your disgust and dismay with this far-off mess.
Phil, 1st read Rumor Of War as a sophomore in high school 1978. As fate would have it I joined the PLC program in college and spent 4 years as an infantry officer, then was recalled from inactive ready reserve for several months during Desert Storm-8th marines, Camp Geiger(don’t tell anybody). Have reread book a couple of times over the years. Watching this very painful experience overseas, I am struck by something I strongly sense but am not eloquent enough to put into words at least not briefly, what has the “corporate mentality” really done to our country, In my career frankly I have seen professionalism and competence but way more incompetency , way more, to include marine corp and civilian world. Phil what has happened to us.