WSJ: Encouraging Signs in Afghanistan

[steve2470]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704187204575101901121065126.html?mod=googlenews_wsj


What if the West's war in Afghanistan is in the process of being won? It has become standard practice to presume that this isn't possible and that immersion in a quagmire followed by ignominious retreat is guaranteed.

Much of the discussion among policy makers and commentators has priced in a debilitating stalemate or defeat. But what if these presumptions turn out to be plain wrong?

There are some encouraging signs of progress becoming visible on the horizon in Afghanistan. Operation Moshtarak in Helmand province got under way in mid-February, with a combined force in the region of 15,000 taking on the Taliban.

It has had some success with various insurgent strongholds taken. Under the direction of ISAF (the International Security Assistance Force) the force is around 60% Afghan.

In Pakistan, the renewed focus on cooperation and assistance from American drones appears to be producing a dividend. One of the most experienced Pakistani commanders in the frontier war with the Taliban, Major Gen. Tariq Khan, told the Times of London that his force of 45,000 has inflicted significant casualties, killed the Taliban leadership and captured bases. Earlier this week Gen. Khan showed off to journalists the recently captured network of caves on the Afghan border reported to have sheltered Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri.


more at link above.... please critique this, thank you kindly.

[unhappycamper]

1. Yes, please tell me about those assumptions.

Please tell me how cost efficient it is to fly pretty much everything into Afghanistan.

Please tell me how efficient it is that a single American soldier on the ground in Afghanistan costs $1 million dollars a year.

Please tell me how cost effective it is to pay 160,000 contractors.

Please tell me the truth about getting supplies thru Pakistan into Afghanistan. How many convoys get thru unmolested?

Please tell me how much your Taliban payoff budget is.

Please tell me you guys aren't leaving poppies all over the place. The Russians are complaining, but the CIA isn't. (That should tell you something.)

Please tell me why a gallon of gas delivered into Afghanistan costs around $400 a gallon.

Please define 'winning' in Afghanistan. It sure sounds like 1965~1967 all over again - the United States government knew in 1967 that Vietnam was unwinnable yet the United States remained in Vietnam for another seven years. Must we reamin in Afghanistan for another seven years?

Please tell me why the United States is going to prevail in Afghanistan. The Soviets were next door and they had their asses handed to them.

Please tell me the prison in Baghram has not been 'Gitmoized'. And then tell me that the Red Cross has the names of every interinee detained at Baghram.

And lastly, please tell me why no one has been able to conquer Afghanistan for over seven centuries. Let me repeat that - tell me why no one has been able to conquer Afghanistan for over seven centuries.

I think I can sum up what Afghanistan is at this point: Hubris. My dick is bigger than your dick. My god is stronger than your god. I have more bombs and bullets than you do. I am not going to leave until the 'war' (a.k.a. occupation) is 'won'.

Of course we still need to define what 'win' means but we'll know it when we see it.

[steve2470]

2. thanks, any more critiques ? nt