The so-called 'anti-war' Left is built on a fallacy of isolationism. No war is not an option. The choice is between bad and worse, less war or more war.
The isolationist Left often demands what will victory look like in Afghanistan. One possible answer to this question is victory is a stable and friendly government in Kabul, and a contained Islamist movement in the countryside. But we all know that they who ask the questions control the terms and the outcome of any discussion. Recall Rumsfeld habit of interviewing himself.
Thus I have a different question: what will failure look like? What do you mean by failure in Afghanistan?
Failure will take three forms in Afghanistan:
- The impact on Afghanistan: a new Taliban, new terrorism, and more wars;
- The impact on Afghanistan's neighbors: exporting radical militant Islamism, more wars;
- The impact on US foreign policy: loss of prestige, isolationism, and greater instability in international affairs. Which means more wars.