So, to save face we continue to sacrifice our best and brightest? As a veteran of VN I say BS. Get us the hell out of Afghanistan and let them fight their own fight.
If our troops are not allowed to fight via conventional rules of engagement then we should leave. Like VN we are fighting for a people that don’t give a damn and wish we were gone so they can get on with their regular lives ...
Did I misidentify the problem that resulted in sacrificing instead of fighting? Since you pointed out the problem with rules of engagement, I would think you do get it to an extent. I don’t know if you agree that generals should fight even when the ruler (in this case the POTUS and his administration) tells them not to, in the case of fighting assuring victory that is.
If you want to invite more attacks on the home soil, the proverbial declaring of victory and running away surely is the way to do it. They will not leave us alone.