OK WTF is the US still doing in Afghanistan

[malaise]

Seriously.

[librechik]

1. same thing as usual (Just saying)

running drugs. If history is any judge.

[gratuitous]

5. And firing off armaments that need to be replaced

Don't forget the poor merchants of death and their insatiable need to sell more arms.

[Iliyah]

2. A huge cache of raw and priceless minerals.

[librechik]

4. very true. But no one can get at it without a huge investment in infrastructure.

There are no roads and the local conditions are deplorable. But none of the usual colonial interests want to make the commitment. Someday we'll eed those rare minerals so badly that they'll be willing to pay.

And global climate change will figure in. What a nightmare.

[zipplewrath]

3. We had our chance

Biden laid out how. We should have listened.

[disillusioned73]

6. I'd like to here that answer as well...

[inwiththenew]

7. Should have left after we got Bin Laden

Honestly what have we accomplished in the 7+ years since then? You're not going to be able to drag those people into the 21st century and turn it into a robust democracy so I don't know what we're doing other than killing people and blowing stuff up and then rebuilding it to probably have to blow it up again at a future date.