It’s easy for the president to say, casually and callously, that “American lives will be lost” when it isn’t a member of his family whose life is on the line — for an unauthorized war with no clear plan forward, or logical rationale. 

My son, who is in the U.S. Navy and right in the middle of this mess, enlisted to support and protect our citizens and our democracy, not to serve the whims of an egotistical president and a cartoon cabinet. Our sons and daughters deserve leaders who seek congressional authorization, define achievable objectives and treat every possible American casualty as a failure and a tragedy, not a foregone conclusion.

With communication blackouts in place to keep our troops safe, I — like millions of other family members with loved ones serving — can only watch the news and hold my breath. This administration claims, “That’s the way it is.” 

It didn’t have to be.

Phyllis Cohn
Portland