It's Time to Make Afghanistan Someone Else's Problem

The Trump administration, as well as its critics, are reportedly wrestling with the question of a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, where the government has shown no signs of being able to turn the tide in the 16-year war against the Taliban. General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistanwith support from Secretary of Defense James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, has for more troops, apparently in service of a strategy that, for the moment, seeks simply to “not lose.” President Trump has this request in principle, but these reinforcements have not yet been dispatched, because the president's advisors seem to believe that he is not committed to stay the course. Instead, a strategic review is underway. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain has his own strategy for Afghanistan, which the “old” strategy, with the admixture of a commitment to stay forever and provide the commanders with