Afghanistan

I don’t write about the war in Afghanistan very much because I’m not certain what opinion to have about it. On one hand, I think the initial invasion way back in 2001 very much made sense — Al Qaeda had a haven there, and Al Qaeda was clearly behind the attacks on America.

But eight years have passed, and we seem to be digging in deeper. And though I’ve continued to support the war in Afghanistan as “the good war” — Iraq never was — I’m now not entirely certain that the war is actually keeping America safer — which is what the war is supposed to be about, right?

Don’t get me wrong: If we leave,  Afghanistan will probably be a failed state that serves as a breeding ground for terrorists. But here’s a problem: We’re there, and Afghanistan is a failed state that serves as a breeding ground for terrorists. That’s what Afghanistan does.

I’m still not certain what opinion to have. But I’m increasingly ready to lean toward withdrawal. We shouldn’t kid ourselves: Bad things will happen in Afghanistan if we leave. But bad things are always happening in Afghanistan; the United States’ job isn’t to make Afghanistan awesome — it’s to make this country reasonably safe. I’m ready to be convinced that staying in Afghanistan actually does that job. Right now, though, this war is losing the benefit of my doubt.