Do you think the U.S. should stay in Afghanistan throughout 2015 and beyond?

[Suburbia]

Some neoconservatives like John McCain, Lindsey Graham fear that if the United States leaves Afghanistan that America's power in the world will diminish. I think we should withdraw in 2014, does anyone here?

[ElectionsGuy]

NO

[H. Ross Peron]

A small body of advisors, but otherwise no.

[Del Tachi]

The United States will maintain a permanent military presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan for the foreseeable future.  Granted, this presence will look much of the way it does in places like Germany or Japan. 

[TNF]

F**k no! We should have gotten the hell out the minute OBL got a bullet in his skull.

[Mordecai]

The U.S. should stay as long as is necessary, unless the government indicates it want them to leave (just like with Iraq). If there are troops in Germany of all places I don't see why there shouldn't be troops in Afghanistan.

[politicallefty]

No way. We should have been out of Afghanistan years ago. The only thing that will diminish American strength and vitality is by continuing to contribute to the money pit that is military engagement in that area of the world.

[Deus Naturae]

The U.S. should stay as long as is necessary, unless the government indicates it want them to leave (just like with Iraq). If there are troops in Germany of all places I don't see why there shouldn't be troops in Afghanistan.

The Afghan President has been pretty clear that he wants the US out...

[Frodo]

Yes, at least a small body of Special Operations troops and CIA operatives, so long as Al Qaeda Central remains alive. 

[mb123]

Leaving a small body of Americans in afhganistan seems like a recipe for Alexader Burnes 2015.

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

Yes, at least a small body of Special Operations troops and CIA operatives, so long as Al Qaeda Central remains alive. 

This is true. We need to be as agressive as possible to make sure Alqaeda never surfaces again. Also, Afghanistan has rich natural rescources that are ours for the taking, so it both makes sense ideologically and economically to stay there.

[AkSaber]

Seeing as how the neocons haven't been right about anything in the last 10 years (not to mention dishonest as hell) I believe the opposite of what McCain, Graham, and the rest of them say.

[ajackson]

Absolutely not. We have no clear objective in Afghanistan now and no justification for staying.

I wish McCain and Graham would explain exactly how wasting value economic resources occupying a weaker country contributes to our global power.

[Randy Bobandy]

I don't know, maybe you should ask the Afghans.

[All Along The Watchtower]

The U.S. will almost certainly get out fairly soon. And the Taliban and their allies in Pakistan will then take over Afghanistan-again.

What a waste.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Yes, at least a small body of Special Operations troops and CIA operatives, so long as Al Qaeda Central remains alive. 

Good luck getting past the Taliban and their ISI handlers with that "light footprint."

[Joshgreen]

Not unless we have the ability/desire to turn the country around, which we seem to have no interest in doing.

[fartboy]

A small body of advisors, but otherwise no.

this ^ but don't announce an exact date until we're gone

[Eraserhead]

Of course not.

[Mordecai]

The U.S. should stay as long as is necessary, unless the government indicates it want them to leave (just like with Iraq). If there are troops in Germany of all places I don't see why there shouldn't be troops in Afghanistan.

The Afghan President has been pretty clear that he wants the US out...

Only after the U.S. does the dirty work, do they find their courage.

[MurrayBannerman]

A small peace keeping force to ward off the Taliban. Nothing more.

This is what happens when you botch up a nation building job by not evaluating a country's unity and level of education.

[Deus Naturae]

The U.S. should stay as long as is necessary, unless the government indicates it want them to leave (just like with Iraq). If there are troops in Germany of all places I don't see why there shouldn't be troops in Afghanistan.

The Afghan President has been pretty clear that he wants the US out...

Only after the U.S. does the dirty work, do they find their courage.

Solution: Don't do their dirty work in the first place.

[Mordecai]

The U.S. should stay as long as is necessary, unless the government indicates it want them to leave (just like with Iraq). If there are troops in Germany of all places I don't see why there shouldn't be troops in Afghanistan.

The Afghan President has been pretty clear that he wants the US out...

Only after the U.S. does the dirty work, do they find their courage.

Solution: Don't do their dirty work in the first place.

It will (hopefully) be worth it in the long run, like 30 or so years from now. They just had an election for President, so that is already one victory.

[politicus]

The United States will maintain a permanent military presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan for the foreseeable future.  Granted, this presence will look much of the way it does in places like Germany or Japan. 

That's a prognosis. What is your opinion? (since this is under, ya know, debate)

[Repub242]

I believe we should stay in Afghanistan until we defeat the terrorists and the Afghan government can support itself.