Anyway, both reasons are pure oversimplification - there wasn't/isn't a finite number of Taliban Baddies to kill before we can leave. It's a philosophy, and it is only gone if people feel they can avoid it w/o being punished. That is as much part of our goal as stymieing present Taliban members.


Having a hardcore reason or excuse isn't the same thing as having stated no other reasons. Not at all. We said that we were going to bring Democracy. You may claim that that isn't important, given that we always say that, but you would be wrong. If we want the right to throw that in as a bargaining chip whenever we want, we can't act like barbarians on the stage.


We have had an effect, yes, but in order for the war to actually have meant anything, we need that difference to stick after we leave. Giving the citizens who have to live with that reality any reason to be swayed to the Taliban side is absolute stupidity.