Afghan officials are expressing growing disquiet over President Obama’s escalation strategy, particularly the timetable for beginning the pullout in July 2011.
Many fear that the Taliban will simply “wait out” the US, taking to the hills until the American forces leave and then swooping in largely unharmed and seizing control of Afghanistan.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs mocked the concerns as “illogical” in his conference today, insisting that if the Taliban gave the US 18 months to train the Afghan military unfettered America would “win” the war.
At any rate, the concerns may be the least of America’s problems in Afghanistan. When America escalated the war in March the Taliban did not pull back, they got more aggressive and indeed took over more of the country. The administration and its detractors both seem convinced that the 30,000 additional troops are going to put the Taliban on the run, and at this point that doesn’t appear supported by the recent momentum in Afghanistan.
They certainly could. Just as the Iraqis could. What their insurgent opponents might do could determine how long they wait, I suppose.
This is not a good strategy, Obama made a wrong decision by sending more troops to Afghanistan. A country which has a corrupt Government will simply can be bribed and bought by these insurgents and US death toll will increase significantly. Surge Strategy is not applicable on Afghanistan, as the terrain of this country is not like Iraq. The terrain is more treacherous and unforgiven, eventually US will leave this country. I propose to negotiate with the Talibans and separate the Al-Qeada from them.
If history has taught us something, wars can never be won by army, war are only won by dialogue.
The main issue about Afghanistan is extreme poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. If US engages itself in a dialogue with the Taliban and invest in Infrastructure by providing basic health, education and other services, extremism will be rooted out slowly but surely.
My two cents.
What do you mean by 'wait out'? They live there. Just replace Taliban for Afridis in Rudyard Kipling's famous poem.
With home-bred hordes the hillsides teem.
The troopships bring us one by one,
At vast expense of time and steam,
To slay Afridis where they run.
The "captives of our bow and spear"
Are cheap, alas! as we are dear.
The Afghans already know that the US will eventually have to leave. The Vietnamese recognized that fact too.
If we can remember our history, we have trained about every enemy we think we have.