Questionable Afghan decisions made by presidents of both parties

A recent letter, “Biden removing troops first left others vulnerable” (Aug. 27), is, I believe, based on incomplete information. The writer needs to review what happened in the last year of Trump’s term. The agreement signed in February 2020 between the U.S. and the Taliban, without input from the Afghan government, allowed the U.S. to withdraw its troops without being attacked by the Taliban. On Jan. 15, 2021, five days before Biden’s inauguration, we learned that only 2,500 American troops remained. It was President Trump who removed our troops, not President Biden. My opinion is that future historians will study the “Afghan years” and find questionable judgments and decisions made by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

JOHN TITUS, PEACHTREE CORNERS

Voting bill needed to assure free elections

In my 75 years of life, I have never been so afraid for the continuation of our democracy’s existence. I have seen differences of views on how to accomplish policies but never the concerted efforts to undermine the basic principle of our republic: losers of a fair election can lawfully reverse the citizens’ votes and declare themselves winners. Only dictators function this way.

All polls indicate the vast majority of voters from all parties support preventing this authorization of corrupt voting. Bills that will ensure basic standards for free election are being held hostage in U.S. Senate. Only with a return to the form of filibuster where you can assure your view, but you have to do so in person, can we have a democracy. The “For the People Act” bill must come to a vote and won’t unless the form of the filibuster is modified.

Too many people are basing their reactions on lies. Those who use reason and base their decisions on verifiable truths must take action.

SUSAN JOSEPH, SANDY SPRINGS

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In this photo from 1997, then-U.S. Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. (in wheelchair), and fellow senators (left to right) Bob Kerrey, D-Neb.; John McCain, R-Ariz.; Charles Hagel, R-Neb.; John Kerry, D-Mass.; and Chuck Robb, D-Va. walk along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall behind the wreath they would lay to commemorate the 15th anniversary of groundbreaking for the memorial. All six senators served in Vietnam, and Cleland lost both legs and an arm in that war. (Rick McKay/Washington Bureau)

Credit: Rick McKay

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com