And that was how long ago now? Ninth anniversary next week, isn't it?
Time to bring the troops home, methinks.
FWIW, I fully agree with you that "to do nothing was hardly an option."
It seems to me however,as you also imply,that our continued presence there will ultimately achieve nothing tangible and that as soon as US and other troops pull out, the country will eventually revert to being controlled by traditional warlords and the Taliban will eventually return to supplant any puppet or so called "democractic" Government that the West tries to impose on Afghanistan.
Not wishing to drag shrimpers chat into political debate... but should we pull the plug on chemo treatment for cancer sufferers, because they are all going to die at some point?