Why don't we leave Afghanistan now?

That is a question posed by the Christian Science Monitor. A surge of some 30,000 troops in 2009 was to lead to the end of our engagement in Afghanistan. They are not scheduled to depart until 2014. It is really a question of whether it was worth it. That is, did this surge have its desired effect and was it cost effective? Of course the answer depends on who is answering the question and how one might define 'cost effective.'

“The surge had its intended effect,” General Dempsey said. “I think it was an effort that was worth the cost – and don’t forget, it did have its cost.” [Afghanistan: Why don't we leave now?]

The costs:  "One American is killed every day in Afghanistan, on average, this year." [. . . the US treasury spends $60 billion a month on the war. On an annual basis, that’s enough to buy groceries for every American family for more than a year and a half." [Emphasis added.]

Just what 'worth' did we get for our investment of American lives and dollars? Read the Monitor's article - you won't find an answer.

How many jobs could be created with that $60 billion per month? How many people could be brought out of poverty conditions? How many homeless could be fed? Oh - the list goes on - doesn't it?






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