It was a colossal mistake, but not surprising decision that US forces entered Afghanistan with “guns ablazing” and in the language of fighting “international terrorism” nearly two decades ago, after years earlier destabilizing a secular democratic-progressive, anti-imperialist government and country. (I met Babrak Kamal, that government’s first Prime Minister in Moscow in 1981 ) But does anyone think that a slower drawn down and exit from Afghanistan now would result in something much different from what we seeing? The only alternative to what is happening is endless occupation. And that we know after nearly 20 years is no alternative