Robert Robb last called for an exit from Afghanistan in an editorial in September. He again appears to have forgotten that it was Reagan's great idea to arm the Mujahideen with SAM missiles to down Russian helicopters to contribute to the weakening of the Soviet Union. It did that.... but it also led to Bin Laden which led to the Twin Towers and the rise of ISIS and establishing the autocrat Putin. So rather than just throw in the towel, we could well be setting ourselves up for future problems. True we have spent blood and treasure there. His arguments, however, ignore some of the strategic and political dynamics why such a withdrawal may harm American interests. We are there with our allies. These allies have also sacrificed and should be consulted. Nowhere does Rob examine the military or economic reasons why we are there or why we should stay. He ignores that the Taliban is a force which supports extremist Islamist ideas. The Taliban has no interest in the welfare and economic development of the majority of Afghans. They will try to establish their own form of theocracy along the lines of Iran though much poorer. There, our support for the autocratic Shah was a disaster for that country's nascent democracy. Trump looks like a soft touch and has as much understanding of world politics as he does of workings of the coronavirus. What do our military commanders in Afghanistan say? Afghanistan is at the crossroads of Asia, fought over for thousands of years. To the north is Russia, to the west Iran, China to the east and India and Pakistan to the south. All have an interest in the country. It's a country rich in untapped mineral resources. Nowhere does Robb examine or refer to the assessments of Lt. Gen. Austin Scott Miller, the new military commander leading the NATO Coalition about the consequences of withdrawal. A unilateral withdrawal is another kick in the face for our allies.

Does Robb not realize that the continued presence of our troops in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the Gulf, Germany, UK, and many other parts of the globe provide a bulwark against the tyranny and lawlessness of those who wish to expand their power and reach to undermine the United States and all it represents?

Our presence in Afghanistan, supporting the ordinary people struggling to build a modern democratic country out of a religiously and tribally fractured society, reflects our values and the values educated Afghans aspire to. I seem to remember the French doing the same for us. This cannot be achieved overnight. The Afghan people have endured years of bloodshed. They want a democratic society. Giving the Taliban free rein would destroy much of the progress already made in establishing civil authority.

Shouldn't we also be asking people on the street in Kabul what they want or need? Robb makes barely a mention of them. He suggests we turn our backs and walk away. Perhaps this the "new" Trumpian view of our role in the world. Let's instead throw in our lot with the tyrants in China, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, North Vietnam. Once upon a time we were a country which symbolized liberty and did our best to keep our promises and our commitments.