You forced me to look at this from a fresh perspective. But as Devil's advocate, let me ask you this, as it it is my understanding, aren't the leaders of Al Queida supposedly in this region of the world?

I didn't know that the Taliban was being used as a whipping boy to connect directly to 9/11. I thought the scenarios was this: Al Quaeda (Bin Laden) seek refuge in Afghanistan, Taliban hinders attempts to get at these people, therefore take out Taliban, get Al Queida (Bin Laden). 

Is my summation incorrect?  Now, I'm not trying to justify our presence there, I'm just telling you how I thought it was sold.

 
Having said that, yes, the war mindset is a wicked one and will be hard for us to shake. Will ending the war in Iraq while continuing a war in Afghanistan really MEAN anything? Won't we be just be playing the same game in a different court? Obviously you are suggesting that and I concur.

So your suggestion for "progressives" (I hate labels) to hold Obama accounatable is , as far as I can see, the right path. Look, He's not perfect, he's not Kucinich (my first choice), but he's a hell of a lot better than the alternative. But voting him in is not enough either. We have to hold his feet to the fire on this and many other issues.

This is why I wrote this blog two months ago.

Thanks again, Gregory, for your post.