On Tuesday, Senators John Kerry (D) and Richard Lugar (R) suggested that the President review the Afghan War effort in light of bin Laden’s death.
I think the Senators’ suggestion is an appropriate one.
Early on, the Afghan conflict expanded from a limited counterterrorism effort to a full-blown counterinsurgency operation.
Afghanistan’s rugged terrain makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the central government in Kabul to maintain consistent control of the country. Widespread government corruption further complicates this effort.
Bin Laden’s death is a perfect opportunity for the President to claim victory in the War on Terror as a rationale to scale back a counterinsurgency campaign that is costing the United States government $10 billion a month.
Instead, the United States should revert to a light footprint in Afghanistan focused predominantly on counterterrorism. The bulk of the American military presence should be reduced to special forces operatives and Predator drones focused on destroying the remnants of al Qaeda.
Reflections of a Rational Republican 
I could not agree more. After almost a decade of American military action in Afghanistan, the longest conflict in American history, we should be looking to defining an exit strategy which leaves security to the Afghans themselves and limits US involvement to training and direct anti terror activities. The more one learns about Afghanistan the more we have to realize this is a highly factionalized tribal based society and has been for more than 1,000 years. We have been far more effective than either the British or the Soviets but it is neither our responsibility nor role to define future of Afghan society and government. We went there to end its use as a base for terror and we have done that.
I completely agree with you, Gordon.
I agree. OBL’s death gives us an honest and easy(easier) “out” that we should take advantage of. We’ll see what he does.
I think Obama realizes he has an opportunity here. I just hope he takes it.