According to officials, President Obama’s top advisers are now eyeing a strategy whereby they would concentrate all additional troops sent under the planned escalation on controlling the 10 largest population centers in Afghanistan, as well as the Helmand River Valley.
The strategy is being presented as a compromise, though it seems to be so only in the sense that it acknowledges that the US doesn’t have enough additional troops to try to fight militants on all fronts across the entire country.
But rather the move seems to be Gen. McChrystal’s long-standing strategy, with only his most grandiose troop requests pared off. Even the decision of the places to focus the troops is based on where McChrystal said he would put the troops if available.
It does seem to point to at least the base level of troop escalation however. It seems four combat brigades, roughly 16,000 additional troops, looks to be the absolute minimum being considered, though likely more will need to be sent to capture the Helmand River Valley. Gen. McChrystal is seeking 80,000 more troops and says 40,000 is the absolute minimum he needs.
Gen. McCrystal is WRONG – more troops – sounds like the same strategy of the generals running the Vietnam War had in that losing war. NOT the British, NOT the Soviets, NOT even Ghengis Khan could conquer and hold onto Afghanistan and Alexander the Great even had difficulty in getting his army through that country. Afghanistan is "the graveyard of empires" and "the graveyard of soldiers" – a well earned reputation. And what is "victory" in Afghanistan? John McCain, Lindsey Graham, ALL of the warmongering Republicans are calling for more troops – ALL are totally WRONG. We are invaders and occupiers of that country – the "insurgents" are the Afghan people who want US out of their country – same as the Vietnamese people wanted the French, ther Japanese, and the US out of their country. We need to bring the troops home. More troops is NOT the answer! Nothing has changed since Sun Tsu (author of the Art of War) observed: "There is no instance of a country having benefitted by prolonged warfare". Our 'empire' will end up as have ALL other empires – dust in the pages of History – destroyed / lost in Afghanistan.
Amen to John Galt…. And furthermore…… What IS to be won there..?? The reason that it was never conquered, subjugated really is THAT THERE IS NOTHING THERE WORTH THE COST OF SUBDUING THE VALIANT PASHTOS. They are honest, hardworking and NOT afraid to die. They are the warriors warriors. Brave to a fault, straightforward and generous. I have been there and done deals with them back when I was a hashseeker in the 70’s. This whole war is built on lies too, just as the one in Iraq.. bush demanded Mulah Omar turn over osama….. Omar wanted proof of osama’s involvement from bush….. Bush decided not to deign to Omar’s request….. So the war is really about bush’s pride… And because of the bush administration’s malfeasance and destruction of evidence we still DO NOT know the true provenance of the 911 attacks on the WTC, Pentagon and the anthrax terrorism…
It's crystal clear that Mac'Chrystal' (aka the JSOP assassination chief under 'darkside' Dick Cheney)can't see the forest over the trees. The USA Imperial invasion/occupation can never succeed because the USA empire is only looking to establish control of Central Asia via permanent military bases in Afghan, Iraq & wherever else the Pentagon warlords dream up. The vast majority of Afghan people just want the foreign Invaders to get out, so they can settle their own problems–in their own way. So why should Congress & the American public be forced to waste another Trillion $ to deny the Afghans their right to self-determination?
So what's the point?
OBL don't live in no stinking cities.
If the Taliban, Terrorists, or whatever want to plan terrorist attacks from Afghanistan all they have to do is rent a place in the 11th largest population center.