We do not need others to lick our boots, we do not ask others to be our underlings so that we can be economically empowered on their backs we give them freedom and then WE LEAVE. If you want empire so damn bad go live in a nation not born of the blood of broken empire because here we have little taste for it. Time lines and end dates make us look American, open ended commitments and parentalisim makes us look like those that we overthrew. Your father was a great American, I am glad that he did not live to see you shame him this way. The ONLY way to win a war in the graveyard of empires is to not act look or try to be one, due to our open ended commitments many in the world and many in the US, namely the left and many libertarians, no longer believe we are “spreading democracy and liberty” or even securing ourself they instead see a growing empire and time lines is the way to take us back to reality and our national roots. May the date shift, yes but Afgh is not ours but their country and without end dates many in the world and this country question that due to our history in certain engagements and more importantly our recent history where we look very much like we have no intent to leave. Your father knew our problem well, trust but verify, for many we have lost trust and time lines is a way to allow for verification. Your father would not have needed to verify in much of the world, but of course that was before Bush and 8 years of global war.

Mr. Reagan, what exactly do we win?

I suppose we can send you a mixed box of civilian and military body parts if that will make you feel more secure. Afghanis will resent us as occupiers until the day we leave. All our war will not stop another terrorist attack from happening somewhere, sometime in the world. Reagan is patently a proponent of endless war, so his advice and concern mean next to nothing.