FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan seem to be blowing up in President Obama's face at the same time. This month has become the deadliest for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion. Two insurgent attacks there have killed eight more U.S. troops, bringing the October death toll to 58. This follows two helicopter crashes yesterday that killed 14 Americans.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/27/art.baghdad.jpg caption="An Iraqi woman and her two little boys survey the damage after a suicide truck bomb struck in central Baghdad over the weekend. The near-simultaneous twin suicide vehicle bomb attacks were the deadliest in the violence-wracked country in over two years."]
President Obama is trying to decide whether to send up to 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. He is scheduled to meet with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday.
Here's something else for the president to consider: A foreign service officer and former Marine Corps captain who fought in Iraq has become the first U.S. official known to resign in protest over the war in Afghanistan.
Matthew Hoh says he no longer knows why we're fighting; and he thinks the U.S. is asking its troops to die for what is a far-off civil war.
As for Iraq - those two weekend bombings in Baghdad killed at least 155 people, including 20 children, and wounded more than 500 others. Al Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for these attacks - the deadliest in that country in more than two years.
The bombing of government buildings in Iraq raises some serious questions about Iraq's security and the national elections planned for January. Earlier this week - President Obama repeated America's commitment to withdrawing our troops.
Here’s my question to you: When it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, what's the right strategy?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jerry writes:
Jack, The right strategy is "follow the money." Raising poppies in Afghanistan has skyrocketed since 2001, and the proceeds fuel the insurgency. We should ignore the plight of the "poor" Afghanistan farmers and bomb the hell out of those poppy fields. When the money dries up, maybe the insurgency will too.
Anonymous who is serving in Iraq writes:
Impatience is the greatest enemy at this point, and only serves the strategy of the insurgents. They hit, hide and wait, then hit when all is clear again with no expectation of accomplishing their objectives in a hurry. Our short-term mentality only assures that their opportunity to strike will come again, and soon.
George from Taos, New Mexico writes:
I remember LBJ's indecision resulting in the majority of the 58,000 American deaths in Vietnam. How many U.S. forces and innocent civilians have already been killed in these two latest debacles? How many will it take?
Lou from North Carolina writes:
Bring 95% of our military people home. Bring 100% of the contractors home. Leave 5% of the best and brightest, or special forces, to do the job. They speak the language. I know them. They are tops and can do the job without a lot of yelling and coverage. Just leave them alone and they will make things right without a lot of fluff.
Gary from Woodhaven, Michigan writes:
When I returned home from Vietnam, the airplane touched down at Miramar Air Base in California. We boarded a bus to take us to San Diego Marine Base. As we exited Miramar, there was a large group of people who began to throw eggs and tomatoes at the bus. I was sullen and hurt that our sacrifices were met with contempt. Today as I witness Iraq and Afghanistan, I am able to understand that courage and valor without a virtuous purpose means nothing.