My name is Nicholas Ruck, an American citizen and a veteran of the United States Navy. Recently I went to my church for Sunday Mass, and when I entered the church I noticed a large picture of a young man smiling from the altar. This young man had a broad smile with bright eyes that looked into the future, an American who radiates what this country is all about, the promise, and the future, the caring that makes this country and her people what we are.
I was struck by this picture because I have never seen our church do anything like this before; his picture was next to our flag. In a few days, he was to come home to our church, not to get married, or see his children baptized, or receive first Holy Communion, or confirmed, no, he was coming home to be buried.
This young man who went to help a country try to become a better place for its children to have the opportunity to have a better future, and he was murdered trying to help. I did not know this young man personally, but I did know him because he served our country as many of us have throughout our great history, and now he is in God’s arms.
He was murdered by one of Afghanistan's "policemen" after a conference on security, how ironic. He has not been the only American killed that way, and never once have I heard the president of Afghanistan offer the American people or the family’s one word of apology, not once.
You have the title of president, but you are not a leader, you cannot hold a candle to Capt. Andrew Michael-Pedersen Keel, who was a leader. You condemn the United States when Afghan civilians are killed in combat and our leaders, both military and civilian, offer condolences and try to make sure it will not happen again, but you are mute when it is our people who are murdered by one of your own military or police.
Why is that Mr. Karzai, why? Why should one more American die or come home with an injury for your country, if you represent what Afghanistan is as a nation, unapologetic, having no compassion for others, if that is what you are as a representative of your nation is, then you are undeserving of American sacrifice.
Our priest at church said God forgives. I wish I could be a better Catholic, because I cannot forgive you. If it were not for the sacrifice of our men and women in your country, you would have no country. You rank among the lowest of leaders in this world. A true leader leads by having compassion for their fellow human beings regardless of who they are, and you certainly are not among the true leaders of the world.
With you as president, Afghanistan will never have the opportunity to become a nation where her people will take a seat among the free nations of the world because you cannot show compassion for others. Others will shun you and your nation! I feel sorry for your people, but I feel more sorrow for all those Americans who have sacrificed to try and help and you show no gratitude for their sacrifice.
Nicholas Ruck
Guilford