Regarding "How to Waste a Decade in Afghanistan" by Frederick W. Kagan and Kimberly Kagan (op-ed, Jan. 9): Is it reasonable to ask our armed forces to continue efforts to greatly reduce the presence of the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan? Why do we think we can succeed? We've already paid a huge price in lives, misery and money, including multiple deployments and suicides. The Taliban and al Qaeda can always retreat to the mountains or Pakistan in order to fight another day. Negotiating with the Taliban would seem to be an oxymoronic.

This war can be compared with Vietnam. Both have included fuzzy objectives, a weak and double-dealing government and a very clever foe who will never give up. It has all the earmarks of a quagmire. Does anyone really believe that keeping large numbers of our military there will lead to a long-term, satisfactory outcome?

J.D. Bullington