Well said

Gerald Caplan nicely boils down the real question underlying Canada's continued military presence in Afghanistan:

What do we achieve by kidding ourselves? We outsiders have never understood Afghanistan, how complex and inscrutable it is. Despite almost 10 years, many billions of dollars and many foreigners and Afghans killed, we’ve made precious little progress in achieving whatever aims we’ve claimed to have at various stages.

It would be better if all Afghans had a more secure life. But it’s time to admit the obvious. Afghanistan will be what Afghans make it, whether we like it or not. We can do nothing about it. Foreigners have no constructive role to play. It’s time they all got out.