As a college student during the Vietnam "War" I was unwilling to question the US actions or the intentions behind them. The parallels with our actions in Afghanistan must not be ignored. What are our true strategic objectives? If we aim to save Afghan civilians from the evils of the Taliban, should we at least ask them if they want us to continue to intervene? Why did we enable a corrupt 'government' to be established under our auspices? Where has all our 'financial aid' gone? If we were initially aiming at Al Qaeda, how come we missed? If we invaded the least-conquerable place on the planet because it happens to be rich in metals and holds a key strategic position as the crossroads where nations and ideologies collide, let's at least be clear about it. Afghanistan has long been prized because it makes a handy trade route between India, Pakistan, China, Iran, and the Arabian sea, for Turkmenistan's oil and gas; landlocked Uzbekistan's natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, & uranium; Kyrgyzstan's coal and iron; and Tajikistan's coal, oil and gas. What we must ask--and acknowledge--is why we are there, what we hope to accomplish, and if there might be a better alternative than protracted occupation and warfare to achieve our goals.