OBL's Dead. What does that mean for AfPak War?

I can see this going one of a couple of ways. It could be hailed as a success and a justification to get out of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We were able to get the guy at the top which would suggest we have met that elusive and ill defined objective of 'disrupting and dismantling al-qaeda'.

Or, it could he hailed as a justification to continue the war. Proof that AQ has been given cover in Pakistan and that our operations are working and need to continue. Additionally, how the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan react will play a role. Will there be escalations in violence as reprisals?

Personally, I think this closes the book on open-ended war in AfPak. The American people have already grown weary of the wars, approval is at an all time low. Two or three years from now, when we are still there. Still killing and still dying. Still wasting billions of dollars a week, there will no longer be a justification in the minds of Americans. It is time to call it over. Call it a win, if you want. But, please, let's call it over.

Most likely

PB

:shrug:

just token. When will we be below surge numbers? When will we be out completely?

or worse?

So I would expect the cycle of violence to intensify and the quagmire to continue.

to anyone but Republicans who find some sort of inexplicable joy in knowing we're at war somewhere.

However, the generals are going to want to keep it going.

Too early to tell.

Not to mention the pearly gates and streets paved with gold.

What I mean is, politically, there was no way we were every going to leave that area of the world with Bin Laden still alive. At least now, it's a possibility.

They just scored a truckload of new intelligence materials and it will take time go through it and follow up on it.

No numbers, no rate, no end date.

... when we have satellites that can read the face of a watch of a guy riding a camel in the desert? He could have been taken out with a surgical strike at just about any time over the past 10 years. Foot soldiers on the ground had little to do with 'smoking him out'. They're there to claim and protect pipeline land and make sure our 'national interest$' are protected. Nothing will change.

release of emotion.

Call me when the Patriot Act is off the books, BushCo is on trial for their parts in this, and the troops are home and the mercs disbanded.

We've invested -- and I do mean "invested" -- too much there. We'll be be there for the long haul, much like Germany and Japan.

The whole purpose of our Afghanistan canpaign was built on getting OBL. We did that...time to exit. There's nothing more to be gained leaving our troops in this Godforsaken rockpile...Obama needs to use this moment of earned prestige to drive this point home and extricate ourselves from this quagmire. The window of opportunity is now. Who is going to stand in opposition?

But should: bring them home.