By Paulette Garin

President Obama’s authorization to send another 30,000-plus troops to Afghanistan is clearly a move in the wrong direction. Our involvement in Afghanistan has been morally suspect and legally questionable from its inception. Who are we fighting? Al-Qaida? The Taliban? What are we fighting for? The war on terror? To protect President Karzai and a government of doubtful credibility?

We have placed our troops and our treasure in an unwinnable conflict at a cost of almost $1 million per soldier per year. Too many lives have been lost on all sides struggling to endure this conflict. Our continued involvement is economically unsustainable. We cannot allow Afghanistan to become the next Vietnam. There is no military solution in Afghanistan. Our military has served us well — but to no avail. Please bring them home to their families.

President Barack Obama said in his inaugural address, “Your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.” Therefore, our efforts in Afghanistan should be focused on a political solution and increased humanitarian aid.