[smokingfrog]

Looks like an interesting read.
bookmark for later

[Ramius]

...that Afghans don’t like to see Americans living in tents. Tents are for nomads. It would be foolish for Afghans in “Talibanastan” to cooperate with nomadic Americans only to be eviscerated by the Taliban when the nomads pack up.

That's an interesting observation. A point to ponder.

[Squantos]

Wow !

[zot]

This is an excellent article, as usual. Thanks for posting it.

[Cicero]

Very interesting take on a difficult problem.

Once again, “demographics are destiny.”

[NC28203]

Soundf like we will be there a long time and it’s going to cost some money.

“Adopting this child-nation means more than building up Afghan security forces. Afghanistan cannot finance its police and army, much less the education system and vast infrastructure needed to fashion and fuel a self-sustaining economy. Its uncontrolled population growth stems from ignorance. Only through the spread of education and opportunity can narcotics production, criminality, warlordism, and fanaticism be eroded.”

[LS]

Listen to this guy. Michael Yon was nearly 100% correct in his analysis of Iraq. He correctly pinpointed the turning point during the Anbar Awakening. He is the closest thing America has to a REAL JOURNALIST and his assessments of Afghanistan ring true-—little things like the impressions Afghans have of U.S. troops living in tents. Cultural things like that are easy to miss.

[ladyvet]

We can succeed in Afghanistan where others failed.

Not if the boy-king has his way.

[ladyvet]

We can succeed in Afghanistan where others failed.

Not if the boy-king has his way.

[Ben Ficklin]

In the second paragraph he says "commitment must be inter-generational". Two generations is 40 years.

Towards the bottom of the article he says "for many decades to come". Many decades, in my mind, is at least 40 years.

While he talks about the potential failings of a counter terrorism mission in Afghan, he says nothing of the alternative potential failings counterinsurgency mission in Afghan.

[gaijin]

If it’s Michael Yon...it’s compelling and I’m sorely tempted to trust him.

Usually I just dismiss “multi-cultural” crap, but I must admit I liked the “tent” insight.

[ex-snook]

Then who are the Taliban? Afghans, Pakistans or ? Same question for Al Queda. What nationality are our enemies?

[PapaBear3625]

A long-term solution that does not involve getting the Afghans disenchanted with the entire idea of Islam, is not a solution.

[Lurker]

bfl

[PjhCPA]

Michael Yon is the man!

[SE Mom]

Yon is always great reading.

There remains a problem- Obama will not heed his observations nor suggestions.

[swarthyguy]

But there is no appetite in America for such a commitment.

People simply do not care.

And one glaring omission in Yon’s analysis: unless we come to terms with Pakistan’s support for the jihadis there is no solution.

Even now, Pakistan’s offensive in Waziristan is against the Mehsud anti Pakistan Talibs, while leaving untouched the Anti American Talibs.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[WalterSkinner]

..my pastor’s son is over there with the 82nd—God be with them all...

[AmericanVictory]

The war in Vietnam was won— and then the Democrat Party decided to lose it, helped logistically by a number of our “allies.”