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March 3 at 6:13 PM

Josh Rogins Feb. 27 op-ed, Selling Trump a new Afghan commitment, presented a confused and unsatisfying discussion of where we next go in the United States more-than-15-year involvement in Afghanistan. Mr. Rogin appeared to think that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. and national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster can sell President Trump on extending and expanding our presence in Afghanistan. But there is no clear requirement for our forces to be there and no obvious positive outcome to be achieved. Mr. Rogin quotes House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.) as complaining that President Barack Obama never made the case for U.S. involvement. He did not for an excellent reason: There is no compelling strategic reason for our military presence in Afghanistan.

Those who fail to see the issue from a historical perspective should acquaint themselves with the British role in Afghanistan from 1839 throughout the 19th century and the Soviet role there from 1979 to 1989. By extending our already enormous presence still further, we run the risk of being there to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the start of foreign (i.e., British) military involvement with the strong likelihood of a similar outcome. We should cut our losses, understand the realities of Afghanistan and quit the country.

Alan Neuschatz, Chevy Chase

Read the rest here:
In Afghanistan, no one can win - Washington Post