Mike Pouraryan
Afghanistan & The fantasy of winning
:
Is it the World's Vietnam??
There has been talk about applying the Iraq "surge principles" to Afghanistan. I have read of commanders complaining about the fact that adequate resources are not available. There was also an overture by the useless Karzai to engage the Saudis to have the Taliban come back to the negotiating table.
First of, as it stands now, the Taliban are winning. Karzai has no crediblity in my view. The Taliban's only requirements is for Foreign Troops to get out of Afghanistan. If that happens, the house of cards built around Karzai is going to collapse. Then, the world is back to square one after all the blood, sweat and tears that has been spent. I view the need to have a political settlement, though, as vital to this disastrous war coming to an end. Fortunately, I am not alone in this assessment. According to a story posted on the London Sunday Times for October 5, The Senior Military commander in Afghanistan for British Forces, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, noted that a deal with the Taliban should be considered. In addition, the same report notes a memo from a French diplomat quoting the British Ambassador, nothing that the current strategy was "doomed to fail". We all must take note of such doubts and think through a strategy. The shooting war that has pursued has clearly not worked.
As the doubts linger on, brave souls continue to die. It is an absolute shame when anyone dies. I salute all American, British, Dutch, French, German and all the others countries who have sacrificed so much and paid the ultimate price. The challenge for us all is whether such sacrifices are worth it or are in vain:
First of, as it stands now, the Taliban are winning. Karzai has no crediblity in my view. The Taliban's only requirements is for Foreign Troops to get out of Afghanistan. If that happens, the house of cards built around Karzai is going to collapse. Then, the world is back to square one after all the blood, sweat and tears that has been spent. I view the need to have a political settlement, though, as vital to this disastrous war coming to an end. Fortunately, I am not alone in this assessment. According to a story posted on the London Sunday Times for October 5, The Senior Military commander in Afghanistan for British Forces, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, noted that a deal with the Taliban should be considered. In addition, the same report notes a memo from a French diplomat quoting the British Ambassador, nothing that the current strategy was "doomed to fail". We all must take note of such doubts and think through a strategy. The shooting war that has pursued has clearly not worked.
As the doubts linger on, brave souls continue to die. It is an absolute shame when anyone dies. I salute all American, British, Dutch, French, German and all the others countries who have sacrificed so much and paid the ultimate price. The challenge for us all is whether such sacrifices are worth it or are in vain:
We Shall Never Forget!!!
