Mary Sanchez: Unheeded warnings; Afghan lives lost to visa gaffs

One thing should be clear about our 20 years in Afghanistan and any war — in-country help is critical.

Locals become interpreters and guides, people who forge connections for our military and literally aid us during any number of dangerous scenarios. No military accomplishes its mission without them.

Getting those people to safety, who in Afghanistan have now been branded as traitors by the Taliban and other extremists, was always going to be part of our withdrawal from the country.

And yet