Afghanistan

[Lamplighter]

The Wall Street Journal is not on my reading list.
When I post links, it's usually to present the "other"
(conservative) side of an issue.

This time I believe the article below deserves reading by all
who are interested in the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

After all, 500+ US troops died there in 2010, and 5,000 were wounded.
Between $100-$125 billion is being spent there each year,
and political and strategic decisions are being made now.

Wall Street Journal
BY RICHARD N. HAASS
Dec 20, 2010

The Obama administration has completed its third review
in two years of U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It argues the current approach is making progress, with success defined
as building up Afghan national army and police forces until they can hold their own
against a Taliban that is being weakened by ongoing combat.
Some officials also believe that several more years of military pressure
will persuade many Taliban fighters to switch sides rather than fight.

There are good reasons to be skeptical...<snip>