This morning, we learned of a massive suicide bomber attack at the gate to the Kabul airport and an additional car bomb at a nearby hotel.

An estimated 5,000 people were jammed together while they hoped and prayed to be let through the gate.  An integral part of this dangerous operation was positioning U.S. troops at the gate to filter eligible people for evacuation from the ineligible.

It's just been reported that at least ten U.S. service members were killed in the attack and dozens more seriously injured. I'm so saddened by their sacrifice and my deepest condolences go to their families and friends on this dark, dark day in American history. Many innocent Afghans were also killed and dozens more seriously injured.

As an American, I rely upon our military to protect our people and country.  I hold them in the very highest esteem and am humbled by their patriotism. They put on the uniform of their service and follow orders. This morning, people who hate us struck and took the lives of several of our great soldiers and Marines. So tragic.

There may be more deadly attacks at Kabul airport. We'll see. But one thing is certain. Once we've departed Afghanistan, the Taliban will be free to transform the entire country into a terrorist university. Thousands of people who hate Americans and what we stand for, who hate all freedom lovers everywhere will have the unfettered ability to train and plan future attacks against America and our allies. Plus, they'll have the additional bonus of using billions of dollars worth of state-of-the-art weaponry; aircraft; vehicles; munitions and comm equipment which we left there. As horrendous as the 9/11 attack was, a future attack could be much worse.

May God continue to bless our troops (past and present), their families and the United States of America.

 Ethan Jones lives in  Rockport