The war in Afghanistan is nearly 16 years old. It is the longest in our nation’s history. Many Americans wonder why our soldiers are still there. This widespread frustration is shared by our commander in chief. The Trump administration has not yet announced its plans for Afghanistan in large part due to the president’s reluctance to take action. If he sends more troops into the country, then it becomes his war, and he is not eager to inherit a costly, seemingly intractable conflict. But as President Trump weighs his options he should remember one maxim above all others: The enemy gets a vote. And in Afghanistan, our enemies are on the rise.

The Afghan government is in serious trouble. The Taliban-led insurgency contests or directly controls approximately 40 percent of the country. No area is truly out of its reach. Kabul, the capital, is regularly hit by the Taliban.