Who would have thought that Hamid Karzai would turn out to save the U.S. from further pursuit of our own folly? If he refuses to sign the Status of Forces Agreement that has been negotiated, it is possible that the U.S. may not be able to plan an exit strategy that leaves any forces in place after some point in 2014. Thus, some clear-headed person might finally say with regard to Afghanistan, "Let's go home."
There is nothing but further heartache for us in this "graveyard of empires" and it is long past time to "declare victory and withdraw."
Wayne McCormack
Thode Professor of Law
University of Utah
Salt Lake City