But – as Michael Yon has written: “The Taliban knows that one day we (the coalition – whether that be the vaunted or the real) will go home.

The Taliban are already home.”

If a lofty and worthy goal has been set – only the worthy goal is possible. The word “lofty” – as yet unattained in toto in the West – shall remain unattainable in that region.

The best we can hope for is to deny, “Shelter from the storm.”

And I, a pretty goddamned weak voice in whatever wilderness would, probably should, offer shelter from the storm, except that, whomsoever would proffer the storm, shall be fodder for the predator, the reaper, and whatever shall become.