On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 23:46:57 -0700, in a place far, far away, Chris J.
made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a
way as to indicate that:

I'm clearly missing something here; Why is the US pulling out after
ISS completion? Isn't that analogous to spending decades and billions
to build a laboratory, and then withdrawing right as it actually can
begin full research operations?

Yes, if it's capable of doing "full research operations" in a cost
effective manner. It's not at all clear that this will ever be the
case for ISS.

In other words, why bother to build it in the first place under this
scenario?

To create/maintain jobs in Houston, Huntsville, California,
Washington, and Florida, and to promote "international cooperation"
and provide midnight basketball for the Russians

And more to the point, why bother continuing construction?

Because we think we have to honor the international agreements.

What am I missing here?

The politics.