The US is bolstering its military presence in Afghanistan, more than 16 years after the war started. Is anyone paying attention? Consider this: At a Senate hearing this past week on top U.S. security threats, the word "Afghanistan" was spoken exactly four times, each during introductory remarks.

In the ensuing two hours of questions for intelligence agency witnesses, no senator asked about Afghanistan, suggesting little interest in a war with nearly 15,000 U.S. troops supporting combat against the Taliban. It's not as if the war's end is in sight.