Coming home

On Sunday, the US and UK withdrew their troops from Camp Leatherneck-Bastion, in Helmand province. The Afghan army will take over the joint base.

This action officially ends Britain’s combat mission that started 13 years ago. Our troops are remaining for another couple of years.

The two coalition forces lowered their flags, and bands played their national anthems, and then troops started loading onto transports.

The withdrawal on Sunday was made under tight security and a media blackout because of fears of Taliban attack. And the Washington Post reported, “On Monday, the last Marines sneaked out.”

You know, the thought of Marines “sneaking” anywhere except up on the enemy is kind of sick-making. What does that tell you about the nature of this 13-year-long war?

I am not entirely confident that the Afghans are fully ready to assume all the duties in Helmand. Since coalition forces arrived in 2001, 350 US Marines and 407 British soldiers have been killed there. I don’t like the thought of ground watered with their blood being lost to the Taliban.

But I’ll bet the families of these men and women are ecstatic that they’re on their way home.