The Trouble With Afghanistan

I hate to admit it, but Elizabeth Warren actually has a point on her critique of our strategy in Afghanistan:

* there is no timeline
* the drug trade is back up
* there is no support for the government

What she did not mention but I will: there is a group of rogue states operating in Afghanistan in contrast to our own goals. In addition to being in conflict with our own State Department over how to handle Taliban, we also have to contend with growing ISIS presence, with Al Qaeda, with the ISI freelancing, and with these other states (China, Russia, Iran, Pakistani government), all contending for human and natural resources, dominance in the area, and a way to stand up to the United States.

I did not hear a clear strategy or an answer from Secretary Mattis that would have allayed any of these concerns.

Mattis on Afghanistan

Important takeaway from Mattis' testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee:
Pakistani government has promised to crack down on terrorism, whereas ISI (the Pakistani creepy spy agency) appears to be running its own foreign policy.
US will be working diplomatically with China, Russia, Afghani government, India, and other countries to find common ground.