“I’m reading a common agreement here that Afghanistan is lost,

Not necessarily. But it is necessarily the case that Afghanistan must be pursued in the context of Global Strategy. Afghanistan is not a war but a front within a war. Before Coalition Forces drove out the Taliban, agencies worked against Osama Bin Laden through rival tribes. If those rival tribes still have access to American UAV firepower and military advice, the Taliban may never make a comeback. Besides, it is usually when Islamic extremists seize power that they become most politically vulnerable. Karzai is the Man; therefore all resentments flow against him. Let the Taliban once again rule Afghanistan and their popularity will plummet precipitously.