Les Gelb puts the case succinctly:
Even though I strongly believe that the United States does not have vital interests in Afghanistan, I also believe that Mr. Obama can't simply walk away from the war.
Note that Gelb strongly believes this war advances no real vital interests for the US. And yet he wants to send thousands more young Americans to fight there. He recommends Vietnamization Afghanization of the effort. Like we haven't tried that already. And then he simply splits the difference between what's really needed (long-term neo-imperial occupation) and what can be gotten past the American public. I.e.: two or three more years to save face.
If this is the best the pro-war forces can do, we should leave very soon.
2006-2011 archives for The Daily Dish, featuring Andrew Sullivan