Afghanistan doesn’t need to be a binary proposition – either committing all our reserves to stabilize it or walking away completely forever. Both choices are foolish. Pay off the local militias like we did before in the 80s and be done with it.

I am unsure of why we should care that the Taliban rules Afghanistan again any more than the communists (a far more murderous bunch) run China.

Assured nuclear sneak attack? Really? I understand that is your worst nightmare (mine too, since I live here) but realistically what are the chances of AQ getting one without us knowing about it?

Meanwhile terrorists – either coming across the unsecured border with Mexico or homegrown – going to various shopping malls on Black Friday or the Day After Christmas and spraying shoppers with AK-47s is easier for them to pull off and IMO far more likely to occur.

Only the hubris of a decadent people would lead them to believe their treasury was an endless source of funds. Resources are limited and should be allocated proportionally to the level of the threat.