Is it instinctive, or does Trump realize we’ll never win in Afghanistan, given the current strategy?
Perhaps it is more instinctive for McMaster and Mattis to not to throw in the towel?
Just some considerations on who is thinking strategically.
I think if we decide to stay in Afghanistan, we need to come up with a policy defining just what we are doing there, and for how long, what the milestones are, and which milestone we’ll use to finally leave.
Perhaps the unsaid reason we are still in Afghanistan is Pakistan. The only reason we still care about Pakistan is due to its nuclear weapons program. That falling into terrorist hands would be very bad. Strengthening our ties with India is a way to mitigate the problem. Again Trump was ahead of the “Beltway Strategic Thinkers” in doing that. In his campaign where he appealed to Indian-American voters was a step in that direction ad everybody missed that!
IOW, define an overall strategy.
Then, set up a military chain of command with authority, men and materiel to carry it out and with direct responsibility to the President.
Last, but maybe most important of all, identify any person or entity who attempts to interfere with and/or profit by this campaign and sent their butts to a really nasty prison for the duration. (Oh, how many times I've wished that had been the case for 'Nam...or since.)
I guess it is how do you define "win."
I think if we decide to stay in Afghanistan, we need to come up with a policy defining just what we are doing there, and for how long, what the milestones are, and which milestone we’ll use to finally leave.
We are still in Korea, Germany, and Japan.