You haven't seen much Afghanistan blogging here because it's an impossible situation and it's difficult for me to see any upside to this thing. Whatsoever.
There's obviously a case, though, for the fact that the previous administration screwed it up so badly that we have to stick around to "finish the job." Also, this president has never promised to withdraw. In fact, just the opposite. But it looks like a timetable for getting out is going to be part of the president's plan.
Personally, enough is enough. Let's get out. However, the Charlie Wilson lesson dictates that if we're going to leave, we absolutely have to rebuild -- humanitarian aide, schools, roads, infrastructure, etc. I would also argue that we station some kind of military force to keep an eye on the Pakistani nuclear weapons.
But if the president decides to increase troop levels and if we stick around, I really hope we hear the president and the Democrats lean on the CBO button the way they've treated healthcare. In the interest of fairness, I want to know how much it's going to cost and how we're going to pay for it (and a timetable for withdrawal would be nice, too). Seems fair.
Again, we should rebuild and withdraw starting now. But if they decide to stay, there can't be any more blank checks. Not when we're being nickel-and-dimed on healthcare and everything else.