Let's admit the obvious: Afghanistan War is unwinnable

So this is an unwinnable, endless war. Kind of reminds you of Vietnam, except we were smart enough to get out of Vietnam.

We need to focus our generosity towards the pains of people around the world more, and less on our immediate gains from these efforts. In the long run, this self-less generosity can earn emotional goodwill of the common populace around the world. We all think emotionally somewhat. But the Eastern cultures are more emotional than the Western cultures. We can influence the Eastern cultures more easily through their emotions than through objective representations. Such efforts will divert their hate to somewhere else, and we can stop being their prime target. Change of attitude frog-leaps by generation. It is better to pay for our deeds by reducing the pain of others early than by incurring suffering later. Hate is a monster that devours itself, if nothing else is available. Let us pull out from its path. Meanwhile we can keep defending ourselves with force, need of which will taper down, as goodwill grows.

Not getting involved in these exploits is another thing that sounds easier than it is. Obama was committed to not intervening in Syria, if at all possible. He was criticized from the right and the left and our inaction allowed Russia to enter the war, insuring that the Assad regime would not be overthrown. Personally, I think he did the right thing — but it wasn't a policy that made anyone swell with pride. It's a very unsatisfying option. So we sink into the quicksand of nation building? What are the options?

I think the Libya option is by far the least-bad outcome.

Imagine how Iraq would have been for us if we'd shot Saddam in the head the first day we captured him, then pulled completely out of Iraq before Xmas day 2003.

...or follow Joe Biden's suggestion of breaking Iraq into three pieces.

I could see it working under certain circumstances but there's something "slapdash" about it, like were indicating we don't care enough to get involved so we'll just drop a bunch of bombs, kill a lot of people, and go home. I could see it being turned against us through effective propaganda.

Imagine how the Middle East would be if we'd killed bin Laden in 2002 and never invaded Iraq.

Then Saddam would be murdering people just like Assad right now.

I could see it working under certain circumstances but there's something "slapdash" about it, like were indicating we don't care enough to get involved so we'll just drop a bunch of bombs, kill a lot of people, and go home. I could see it being turned against us through effective propaganda.

But I can tell you, the hardcore 'peace' crowd was not happy with Obama's war.

Neither did Afghanistan. They just didn't turn over Bin Laden. Pakistan had him sitting pretty for quite a good while we were in Iraq for no reason and we didn't bomb and invade Pakistan.

...The Taliban allowed terrorist organizations to run training camps in their territory and, from 1994 to at least 2001, provided refuge for Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organization. The relationship between the Taliban and bin Laden was close, even familial—bin Laden fought with the mujahideen, has financed the Taliban, and one of his daughters is reportedly married to Mullah Muhammad Omar....