Paul Pillar, professor of security studies, on whether the war in Afghanistan has benefits:

"The benefits in terms of ultimately adding to the safety and security of the American people would be marginal and questionable. At best the difference such an effort would make in the terrorist threat facing Americans would be slight. At worst, the effort would be counter-productive and would not reduce the threat at all. And even at its best the benefit would be, in my judgment, outweighed by the probable costs of the counter-insurgency."

U.S. Lawmakers Question Afghanistan Strategy

October 15, 2009, Voice of America News