I don't think our inital response was mismanaged that poorly nor was it incorrect, but we were completely sidetracked by Iraq. That was a fiasco. To late for that. It is our tarbaby for the foreseable future.

I suspect that it's not: taking my shoes off, or jamming 3 oz toiletries into a 1 qt ziploc.

:lol2: you are funny as hell. Of course you don't get any of this.

I don't get it? I don't get it.

I agree it was correct, but I think the White House should have listened to the Pentagon's assessment of what was needed in men and materiel, instead of Rumsfeld's plan to use a minimal force (and Afghan war lords) to chase the scumbags across the border into Pakistan. I'm convinced that was a huge mistake that has cost us dearly, and will for years to come.

You're wrong. As usual.

At this point I am not sure how we can recover from it in a military sense. And I see that the Paki's are taking a turn away from the issue as things with India heat up. In fact, the radical elements in their government may have been attempting to provoke this crisis between their countries in an effor to take some of the heat off the Western front. Who knows?

"A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?" - Joshua, Wargames

Mike Yon said the only way we can recover in Afghanistan is to rebuild, and greatly expand, their infrastructure so the people have an alternative to kissing the taliban's ass to survive. He gave a reasoned argument that sounded logical, but like most people I don't know for sure, just haven't heard any better suggestions.

That alone makes it more logical than anything else we've seen. Forcing Western democracy and free markets isn't going to create a good impression unless the population wants Western democracy and free markets. They have to be allowed to choose, or at least be under the impression that they have a choice.

Showing them how to grow alternative crops to opium poppies won't work unless they have a market to sell them and a road to get there.

Q: How long does it take to reach the ground from 107 stories up?
A: The rest of your life

Way to make the scene, sull! Welcome.

So far. Not funny.