Protestors demand troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Widespread protests have been held in Washington after a White House spokesperson said President Barack Obama is not considering withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.

This comes on the eighth anniversary of the start of the US campaign in the country.

Ken Mayers and other veterans say not much has changed since they served in the Vietnam War.

“It seems like we don’t learn our lessons,” he said. “Those of us who have been there have to help teach the lessons. There is no good solution, there are only bad solutions and worse solutions. We’ve created a mess.”

Now he's come to Washington to speak out against the war in Afghanistan.

Support for the war in Afghanistan is at an all-time low, as the death toll for American troops is at an all-time high.

The demonstration in the American capital comes on the heels of one of the deadliest battles for US soldiers in Afghanistan in the past year.

Among the shouts of anti-war protesters, there are also a few lonely voices saying this is still a cause worth fighting for.

“We were looking for groups that had assaulted our country,” said Cindy. “Back then, one of those people, one of those organizations, Al Qaeda, was warehoused in Afghanistan. So I do believe in what our guys are doing.”

But peace activists say the military has embarrassed the United States. And they have a message for the Afghan people.

“Certainly for people in Afghanistan and Iraq and other countries where the United States military might has been menacing, our message is ‘we’re sorry, we’re so very sorry,’” said activist Kathy Kelly.

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