Nicely delivered, but strategically unimaginative in an off-putting way. Too much talking down to the American people. We're more sophisticated; we can handle more complex arguments.

Overall then: good on the 30k decision, bad on specific timetable, and boat missed completely on articulating a larger regionalization of the solution.

Afghanistan is not a vacuum or an island. Just mentioning Pakistan isn't enough.

Check the map, Mr. President. China has a border with Afghanistan.

To be amplified in the my Thursday Esquire column.