September 10th Thinking

I see some critics of Trump's decision to fight the Afghanistan campaign reflect this author and don't see clear victory conditions in the plan. Isn't the very clear result of defeat clear enough?

I'm not sure what is unclear about denying the Taliban a victory in Afghanistan. When the Taliban ran Afghanistan, it was a haven for al Qaeda which used the sanctuary to plan and execute the September 11, 2001 attack on our shores.

Consider that the Indonesians broke up a dirty bomb plan that would have scattered nuclear material in a conventional explosive. This is a terror weapon and not really a nuclear weapon, of course.

Yet I'm not comforted that "experts cast doubt on their expertise, equipment and chances of success."

They wanted to kill. I'm relieved this bunch of haters weren't good enough. Eventually someone will get the equipment and expertise, raising their chance of success.

And a sanctuary is always helpful to improve your access to equipment and development of expertise.

Come on people, we wouldn't care much about Afghanistan if it didn't have the potential to be a place where enemies can harm us. Don't let enemies take control of the place. And don't let their persistence be a reason to let them win.

Killing terrorists isn't the totality of winning the Long War. But it has to be the first thing we do--and do it well--to protect our people while the Islamic forces (governmental, societal, and military) that can win this Islamic Civil War are bolstered.

Let's not go back to September 10, 2001.