Canada Comes To Its Senses - The U.S. Doesn't

(This image of Canadian troops returning is from the website of the BBC.)

The Afghan occupation is now in its 13th year, and while the United States government seems to want to continue it indefinitely, other countries don't. This week the Canadian government followed the lead of some other nations and withdrew the last of their troops from Afghanistan.

The first Canadian troops went to Afghanistan in December of 2001 -- a special forces unit called Joint Task Force 2. In the years that followed, thousands of Canadian troops served in that country. And 158 Canadian soldiers were killed -- the first four killed by a bomb dropped from an American plane.

The Canadian flag was lowered for the last time on March 12th, and the last 84 soldiers were sent to Cyprus for a few days of rest and recreation. They arrived in Canada on March 18th (see picture above) and were met in Ottawa by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper told them, "Welcome home and job well done".

Of course, the job wasn't "done". But after more than a decade of killing and being killed, the Canadians were smart enough to realize that -- and they realized that the United States has no intention of leaving any time soon. So they declared victory and brought their troops home.

That is what the United States should also do. If more than 12 years of war couldn't accomplish their goal (whatever that is), more years of occupation and killing are not going to get anything more done. I think the politicians probably know that, but none of them have the political courage to withdraw all of the troops. They are all afraid of being labeled as being weak on defense (even though that occupation has nothing to do with the defense of this country).

Canada has come to its senses. Now it's time for the United States to do the same. Political cowardice is a poor excuse for costing more American (and Afghan) lives.