Last week American officials accidentally burned Korans. Afghan soldiers intentionally killed American soldiers. Barack Obama apologized profusely. The Afghan government is silent.
In 1956, U.S. allies went off the reservation. Britain, France, and Israel, all three heavily dependent upon American support and defense, initiated a war against Egypt over the Suez Canal. They all backed off after a private, but fiery threat from then-President Dwight Eisenhower to cut them out of the alliance system.
A president with more sand would call Karzai and demand an apology and restitution for the families of military men sent to protect Karzai's government. The alternative would be an immediate and total withdrawal coupled by a 100% shutting off of support. Then create a cordon sanitaire around the nation. If Karzai falls and Iran wants to go play, provide support to groups that could tie Iran down there. Perhaps also carve out a territorial portion of the nation for those who supported us and for others who want to live in some era beyond the 11th century. Within this westernized enclave, work on complete education of women and the abolition of pedophilia. Maybe this area can serve as a model for the rest of the country to join when it sees the benefits of living Western.
But otherwise, abandon the place to its hellish fate, if that is what it wants.
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