Time magazine cover - What happens when we leave

[tw]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I heard about Petraeus' forthcoming press meetings last week, but I did not expect him to be so explicit about continuing the military effort in Afghanistan beyond next July.

Remember where we are in an ongoing and unresolved war started in 2002. We literally surrendered on the battlefield when we did no phase four planning, did nothing to take out the enemy (bin Laden), and are now refighting a war from scratch. Because we all but surrendered on the battlefield on and after 2003.

Very unusual is to be defeated due to no phase four planning - no planning for the peace. And then going back into combat. Very little military precedent to base conclusions on. Petraeus is discussing that.

At some point, we may have to admit to defeat and pull out. The destruction to the American economy alone is massive. Being discussed by Petraeus (and others) are benchmarks that define a military victory or a military defeat. Too many are discussing only what they understand - a timetable. Petraeus is discussing something far more serious. At what point do we finally admit we are defeated.

To have an exit strategy based upon the strategic objective means we must define conditions necessary to admit defeat. What is our exit strategy? Not our timetable. View the bigger picture. What is our exit strategy?

And do not for one minute assume America cannot be defeated by Afghanistan. We are already suffering serious economic malaise imposed on the American people by "Mission Accomplished". Even America has limits that are more than just military.
Defeat remains a real possibility.

What benchmark would you use to define defeat? It is not rhetorical. Every lurker in this board should be asking themselves that question. If for no other reason, to be listening for a answer.