[flamberge]

Put a 40 sq/mi no-go zone around Bagram airbase and pull out of everywhere else.

Sounds like a good start. Then how do we get our people out of Bagram airbase?

Withdrawals are dangerous. When the British withdrew from Afghanistan in the 1840's they lost their entire army to ambushes on the exit route. Over 16,000 people were killed.

Only one soldier survived.

When the Russians left Afghanistan, they did so without prior announcements and were completely gone in 24 hours. We had best do something along those lines when we leave.

Anyone that gets in the way - just kill them.

[Psalm 73]

"Then how do we get our people out of Bagram airbase?"

We keep it - will piss off both the Red Chinese and Russians.
I just threw out 40 sq/mi as a number - whatever we need to keep flight cycles safe from SAMS.