To the Editor:

As news from Afghanistan grows darker by the moment, and our hearts break for its vulnerable population, let us look beyond the impulse to blame someone for this tragedy.

Let us remember that the people of the United States never voted for a 20-year war in Afghanistan. On Sept. 18, 2001, Congress voted to give to the president the Authorization to Use Military Force against the forces who on 9/11 launched direct attacks on us.

Congress never again debated the issue of authorizing the AUMF, and thereby 1) abandoned its constitutional duty as the single entity with the authority to declare war and; 2) gave it to one man, the president. Subsequently, four presidents have used this authorization to expand military operations in Afghanistan and throughout the world without the consent of, or even, consultation with Congress.

As Quaker peace activists, we choose diplomacy over military action. However, for all of us we wonder what lessons we can learn from this tragic failure in Afghanistan. Thus, Congress, rather than pointing a finger at the president, must reclaim its responsibilities regarding its war powers.

While looking back over 20 years of missteps in Afghanistan, let us begin by encouraging Congress to reassert its authority to examine and debate all military decisions.

Muriel Cohan,

Lawrence