Editorial: Faster Afghan exit a smart move

The White House is considering shifting to an advisory role in Afghanistan as soon as next year, which would ratchet down U.S. military combat there more quickly than scheduled. Here are two considered words of advice: Do it.

What's on the table is a change in focus from counter-insurgency to counterterrorism. Rather than working to stabilize Afghanistan, the military would concentrate on targeting terrorists for death or capture. U.S. troops would still have a role in combat missions, but Afghan forces would increasingly take the lead.

It's the right approach because all of our major objectives in Afghanistan have been accomplished. The country is no longer a base of operations for al-Qaida. The Taliban government, which provided that safe haven, has been ousted. A democratically elected government is in place. Osama bin Laden is dead.

President Barack Obama should bring the troops home as quickly as the military can pack up. There is little to be achieved by staying longer.

Recession-ravaged Americans are weary of the war and its cost, so there is a political element here. Throttling back there before next November could help Obama's re-election bid. That may or may not be so, but this is one of those circumstances when good politics is also good government.

The goal in Afghanistan now should be limited to making it clear that terrorism against the United States is a fool's mission. hN