Just when you think that nothing can get any dumber–you’re proven wrong. Defense Secretary Gates suggested today that some of our forces that were a part of the surge into Afghanistan could leave the country before the President’s announced July 2011 withdrawal-begin-date. Gates gave no specifics saying that it would be dependent on conditions. While our troops are doing wonderfully in Afghanistan there is so much to do it is beyond belief. We sent fewer troops in the surge than the commander on the ground wanted, they’re staying for an altogether insufficient amount of time to accomplish anything of lasting significance, and now the SecDef is suggesting that we may start pulling them out early. This is, well, dumb.