Controversy over Afghan Timetable

In a recently released book, Vice President Biden was cited as saying that July 2011 would mark a significant point of draw down for U.S. Forces. Secretary Gates says that this is not the case, and that the current offensives in Afghanistan have not gone as smoothly as hoped, putting any previously established timetable in jeopardy.

In terms of International Law, I feel this raises a moral question: does the U.S. owe the international community a full withdrawal from Afghanistan in light of the blunders and arguably shaky legal basis for invasion (vis-a-vis Iraq) or should the United States indeed stay the course? The insurgency in Afghanistan is now stronger than it has been in years, and a return to the warlord regime of the Taliban would be devastating not only to Afghanistan and American P.R. , but also the strategic position of U.S. interests and stabilizing efforts in the Middle East? Is there a question of justice if the United States were to leave and leave the region in chaos?

I argue that there is more justice to be done by, "staying the course," at this point in the war, as the injustices that would be inflicted upon the Afghan people would be laid at American feet for starting the war - an effect that could raise questions of human rights violations and American culpability thereof.