Norman Solomon, writing in Truthout, argues that  the imposition of a monolithic public opinion prevents discussion of alternatives to escalating war:

Right now, the basic ingredients of further Afghan disasters are in place - including, pivotally, a dire lack of wide-ranging debate over Washington's options. In an atmosphere reminiscent of 1965, when almost all of the esteemed public voices concurred with the decision by newly elected President Lyndon Johnson to deploy more troops to Vietnam, the tenet that the United States must send additional troops to Afghanistan is axiomatic in US news media, on Capitol Hill and - as far as can be discerned - at the top of the incoming administration.