Afghanistan was legitimate at the outset after 9/11. It was the home base for operations of AQ under the wing of the Taliban.
However, what happened afterwards is that the state department and UN began to set unrealistic goals and objectives for the nation of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is not really a “nation” as we think of it. It is a collective of varying tribes and warlords that often shift allegiances as the sand blows.
We are now stuck in a vicious cycle attempting an impossible goal pouring blood and money into an effort that is doomed to failure in the midst of a continuing insurgency. I don’t think we are any closer to our “goals” today than we were 10 years ago. Sure, they dress it up pretty and talk about progress, but it will not last after we leave.
Trump’s instincts are right - get out of there.
The nation did have a need to strike back, to extract some small amount of revenge for the 9/11. The target however should have been the House of Saud. Failing that, the Bill Clinton approach of lobbing a couple of cruise missiles and blowing up a baby milk factory in Kandahar may have served the nation better in the long run.
It is a collective of varying tribes and warlords that often shift allegiances as the sand blows.
Sounds like Chicago.
We killed bin-laden, we punished the Taliban and we have killed thousands of terrorist. Declare victory and go home. This Colin Powell nation building crap has led us to this quagmire. The deep state and joint chiefs have had 20 years to come up with a coherent strategy for victory and have ignored the victories they already have, a punished Taliban, devastated Al-quada and dead bin-laden. This is just about $ in the pockets of pentagon contractors and a living test live testing facility for new weapons. Not another drop of American blood for that sewer should be spent, bring the boys home!