^^^^My primary concern is his policy. By telegraphing a departure date he will insure that villagers sympathetic to our mission will now hedge their bets for when the Taliban fills in behind us. This will make the mission of our troops more difficult, and more servicemen may die as a result. He is doing this for political reasons, and I object when a military decision is affected by political considerations.
I will agree with this.
Two points though. 1st - at least he is making an effort to finish a mission that has cost American lives. I am pleasantly surprised and relieved. 2nd - He is a politician. I don't know if he (or almost) or any other politician can make a military decision without it be affected by political considerations. While I agree with you and Pima about telegraphing a departure date, I'm not sure if he could sell it to enough members of Congress without a time line for withdraw. There is one good thing about politicians though.......almost nobody expects them to keep their word. The supposed departure date may very well come and go if the mission has not been accomplished.