It is good to know that this essay from the FT points to a very simple fact which I already have mentioned here in the .org. The cost of this ill-advised war has been gigantic in non-monetary and monetery terms, in human and political capital and still is, every day it is increasing. So we know that "staying the course" and trying to achieve "stability at all cost" is hugely costly. What we don't know what will happen afterwards. In our complex world the retreat of the US Army could well increase longterm stability or the sectarian bloodbath.

But to stick to the mission just because you have thrown money out of the windows doesn't mean that you must continue to throw out more money to give the impression you did a perfectly sensible thing before...

OA