It seems like an odd time of the year to be predicting a major escalation in violence in Afghanistan, given that violence usually drops quite dramatically with the beginning of winter, but UN envoy to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura insisted today that there probably would be a short term, major escalation.
“We are detecting from the anti-government elements an attempt to show, on their side, spectacular attacks,” Mistura insisted, adding that a political settlement with the Taliban was vital to the stability of Afghanistan.
“Everyone recognizes there is no military solution. Frankly, even the Taliban do, even if they will not say this publicly,” Mistura added. This has certainly been the case for both sides of combatants, which despite spiraling death tolls all around are forever claiming progress and predicting victory just over the horizon.
Indeed Mistura’s comments were dismissed by Afghanistan’s ambassador to the UN, who insisted that overall security was improving and said any attacks would be “isolated” incidents. This seems a tough claim to make, given the record death tolls, but has become an all-too-common one as 2010 comes to a close.
Perhaps he is referring to the spectacular losses suffered by US combat troops in Helmand in December. At least one US soldier has died on 12 of the first 18 days of December, 2010 in Helmand province.
“Everyone recognizes there is no military solution. Frankly, even the Taliban do…"
Thus spake de Mistura of the UN. So, what in the hell is up with all the military slaughter? The Afghan insurgents strike, US/NATO retaliate massively with piles of that "ancillary" collateral damage and concensus is…"no military solution."
My fellow Americans, what we have here is desperation on the cusp of madness. Of course, the failure to communicate ANY signs of progress would be glaringly apparent. THERE IS NO PROGRESS. There is quagmire and the muck is getting deep. Bloody deep.
don't pick a fight with someone who is willing to die it is impossible to win.
The Taliban/Al-Quaeda/Hitler-of-theWeek doesn't need to win militarily- as with all insurgent/guerilla actions, all they need to do is outlast the US.