and yes we have no more intaglio banana's to finance our obligations

the whole gets deeper, and deeper, and deeper in arrears

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'...Officials said Obama has asked for more detailed cost breakdowns, as well as timelines for when Afghan security forces could take over for U.S. forces, before deciding on options ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 more troops.

Georgetown University military analyst Christine Fair said the fact that officials are at odds over costs is indicative of the broader discord over war objectives.

"It reflects the political climate. The leadership is confused, we're broke and most Americans don't know why we're there," Fair said...'

The costs will break us and force us out of Afghanistan.

The confusion as to why we are there will never get addressed.

IMHO it is time to get out of Afghanistan, there is little more we can do there. It is a corrupt gvoernment with no justice system (courts), medical systems and no educational systems.

Afghanistan is one of the most backward coutries in the world with an economy dictated by drug money and violence.

Our confusion is thinking that our compassion can cure a society that is incurable.

BTW the "if you wish for peace prepare war" addage is antiquated pre-globalization thinking. In fact it feeds right into the al-Qaeda reasoning for it's very existence.

Peace is prosperity and war is poverty.