Sorry, just not getting it. I diligently read all the commentary, including that by our esteemed editors, and I’m still not getting it. What are we doing in Afghanistan?

If Afghanistan-the-nation is a threat to our vital interests, let’s carpet-bomb their cities, hang the leaders, impose a constitution, plant a couple of big fat military bases in strategic locations, and settle in for a 20-year occupation.

I don’t believe for a minute that Afghanistan is such a threat. Does anyone? They are hosting people who are planning terrorism against us? So is London. So is Yemen. So are Denver and Minneapolis. Let’s deal with that the right way: supporting legal action where law means anything, deploying special-ops teams and military hi-tech (drones, cruise missiles) where not, and being much more selective about whom we permit to settle in our country.

Counter-insurgency is a crock. “Winning hearts and minds” is sentimental slop. Please, don’t hand out any candy to Afghan urchins on my dime. Let the little buggers wheedle candy from their parents, like mine have to.**

Can we please gather up all this junk from Lyndon Johnson’s closet and ship it to the town dump, asap? Thank you.

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** It’s possible I’m behind the curve here. Perhaps the Obama administration enacted Candy Provision Reform when I wasn’t looking (with, of course, a Candy Czar to oversee implementation). In which case, if someone could please tell me where the kids go to apply for their candy vouchers, I’d be much obliged.