Afghanistan: Matthew Hoh's Resignation Letter

Captain Matthew Hoh resigned as from his job serving in a key role within the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. His four-page letter is embedded below.

Hoh speaks with the authority of a man with first hand knowledge. He served the last five months as Political Officer in Afghanistan. Before that, Hoh spent six years serving as a Marine Captain in Iraq.

Hoh's letter notes that 2009 marks the eighth year of United States involvement in Afghanistan--the same amount of time as the Soviet Union was embroiled in the country. Hoh describes the period as just another part of the ongoing thirty-five year civil war.

Hoh's letter explains his frustration about the increasingly muddled and confused American policies in the Afghanistan war. He questions the stated goals of fighting terrorism and states that the effort appears futile, and unworthy of the continuing sacrifice being made by our young soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen.

Matthew Hoh first US official to resign over Afghan War