Joshua Foust uses the recent helicopter crash in Afghanistan to remind of the war's grim reality:
[A]s shocking and as sad as the loss of 30 American troops is, the fundamental strategic picture of the war hasn’t changed. Nearly 50 troops have died in Afghanistan so far in August; while that’s high, 65 ISAF troops died in June. The number of soldiers killed says very little about their effectiveness: In war, fighting can be hard with many dead but ultimately serving some purpose. The real scandal in Afghanistan isn’t that Americans are getting killed. The real scandal is that we don’t know why we’re there.
Dan Savage is succinct:
Osama is dead. Declare victory, get the fuck out.
(Photo: US Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade wait for helicopter transport as part of Operation Khanjar at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on July 2, 2009.
US Marines launched a major offensive into the Taliban heartlands of southern Afghanistan before dawn as President Barack Obama's new war plan swung into action. With dozens of aircraft ferrying out troops from various bases, the assault aimed to insert forces into insurgent strongholds in Helmand province in what officers said was the biggest offensive airlift by the Marines since Vietnam. Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword), involving nearly 4,000 US forces as well as 650 Afghan police and soldiers, would bring security to the Helmand River valley ahead of presidential elections on August 20, commanders aid. By Manpreet Romana/AFP/Getty Images)
The Dish 