Withdraw from Afghanistan NOW!

It is time for American soldiers to leave Afghanistan NOW!

That is what we owe the Afghan people after failing to detect the deterioration and slide into madness that led to the murders of 16 Afghan civilians in their homes [9 of them children] by an emotionally-unhinged U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Doing anything less is dishonorable.

American forces should be sent into combat only to achieve valid security and defense objectives. Members of the military willingly serve - and sacrifice - at great cost to themselves, their families and our country.

Waging - and winning - the war in Afghanistan is not likely to make America safe from terrorist attack. Al-Qaida finds refuge in more than one nation. (The 9/11 attackers were Saudi born; they entered America with German visas.)

America would be safer if just some of the billions of dollars currently being spent in Afghanistan were re-allocated to other security initiatives.

Stamping out the Taliban from Afghanistan is not a realistic goal. The Taliban are entrenched in Afghanistan. They have significant allies in the Afghan warlords, and among elements of the Pakistani military and secret service.

American military support for the corrupt administration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is likely to create long-term resentment on the part the Afghan people towards the United States.

Nothing prevents covert operations targeting al-Qaida and Osama Bin Laden after the withdrawal of American ground forces.

Leaving Afghanistan now does not preclude diplomatic efforts, and economic and military assistance, in Afghanistan.