'We are not winning in Afghanistan': Defense Secretary Mattis

2 things that I will quickly summarize:

1) Look at Afghanistan on the map and the region surrounding it. The entire region is in a transformative period and the US is making damn sure their interests are pursued.

The major installations in Afghanistan are virtually untouchable by any mixture or combination of insurgent forces. The long term strategic value should be apparent here.

2) Given our ability to establish major installations does not mean we can effectively control Afghanistan itself. Even before the war started, Afghanistan was ravaged by mass killings, a failing economy (outside of terrorist controlled drug production), record levels of illiteracy, and youth unemployment. This is prime real-estate for the Taliban and other such organizations.

Afghanistan was mostly Taliban controlled, and if all foreign forces left, would be mostly Taliban controlled again in short order. Again, if you look at where Afghanistan is on the map, and acknowledge all the instability in that region, you can see why this cannot be allowed to occur.

I know I didn't answer any of your questions directly. I can only offer a bit of context for you to use to think about those questions.

/r/worldnews Thread Parent Link - reuters.com