Protest Marks Afghan War Anniversary

On this eighth anniversary of the start of the war in Afghanistan, Washington is the focus of attention for the decision that is expected on what course the U.S. will take. On the one hand, the military commander is reportedly asking the president for more troops, while others are lobbying the president just as hard to wind down the eight-year war.

That debate played out on the streets of D.C. on Wednesday night. Massachusetts Avenue in Thomas Circle was home to some of the extremes when it came to opinions on the Afghanistan war. On the one side were protestors who say the war must end. On the other side were people who say the U.S. must live up to its commitments to the Afghan people.

On the eighth anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, a group of college students—many who were in grade school when the war started-- called for it to end.

"Its eight years too many," said Joey Patchen, an American University student.

Patchen says he joined the demonstrators because he wants to the killing of American troops and Afghan civilians to end.

"There needs to not be an increase and not be a troop surge, and bringing in more troops will only increase the violence," Patchen argued.

The way he sees it, by calling for an end to the war, he's trying to stop the U.S. death toll.

"For the troops and for the Afghan people, the best thing is to end the war," he said.

But down Massachusetts Avenue, there was a very different demonstration as military and defense contractors at the Association of the United States Army meetings showed off the latest military hardware. Not far from there is where FOX 5's Tom Fitzgerald met Able Moreno.

Moreno arrived in Afghanistan in January 2002 as a corporal in the Army's 82nd Airborne. He left a year later as a sergeant and began a group called Vets 4 Vets, dedicated to helping people transition from the armed forced to civilian life.

"What I do remember is my interactions and being there and having to go on patrols and doing those things and having to keep the right mind," said Moreno.

He says critics of the war should understand that it's not as simple as just pulling out troops, because Moreno feels the human cost for Afghan people and U.S. troops would be significant.

"A soldier's job is never done, whether it be in conflict or out," said Moreno. "When I look at this, I think if there are the measures we're taking, then they need to be supported in every which way."

So in D.C. this eighth anniversary, two young men-- Able and Joey-- both deeply concerned about the future of the Afghan war - but both with very different opinions about what that future should be.

The protest in Thomas Circle is what's being referred to as a week of action. Another event was planned by the anti-war group Code Pink for Wednesday night, and it was scheduled to feature a discussion about the state of the war.