Yea, I don't doubt you are right about self-determination. My beef all along was that this was a strategic error. I now consider that view to be fully vindicated. We had to go now, if only to maintain some sort of shape to our armed forces. What worries me, is that if lessons aren't learned fast, the Chiefs will send thousands more troops to Helmand, with no clear mission and fewer and fewer countries prepared to shoulder the burden.
Furthermore the strategic shift in balance in the Middle east is yet to play out. Who knows where this will end up.