Taliban's gonna win Ya'll...

[battleax86]

As for the OP, the study interviewed Afghan rebels. Of course they're not going to have views that would be conducive to our goals there. That's why they're f**king rebels. I think the Afghan population, as a whole, can be worked with. They were on their way to becoming a modern society before the 1980s and, if we keep working with them, they can become that way again. It won't be quick or easy, but it can be done. It's been done before.

[Spider]

Its been sorta done. Gotta remember that every time someone tried to drag that place kicking and screaming out of the stone age...the hillbillies rose up and started cutting people's heads off.

[battleax86]

[battleax86]

[PoS]

Honestly, who cares what they do over there, leave them be and lets concentrate on the problems at home.

[battleax86]

[Spider]

No, you gotta go back waaaay farther than that. Back when the monarchs were trying to westernize the place. When the headscarves were discouraged, and women were not only going to school and holding public offices, but doing it while wearing skirts and such. The 50's and the 60's, maybe into the 70's were the peak of liberalization of the country. The hillbillies had already been assassinating their leaders for decades over this sort of thing by then.

Afghanistan was actually a pretty decent place there for a while. But always...hillbillies. Ruining everything.

[exploited]

[battleax86]

[Spider]

Maybe.

Just in terms of cost/benefit...what does ramping up efforts in Afghanistan buy us? Especially considering the already in force timetable for withdrawal. I mean...its been a decade+. Apparently, they really want to go back to the burkas and beheadings. Whatever creams their twinkie.

What can be gained by spending the blood and treasure to sterilize that dump? They are pretty much completely irrelevant tactically. Strategically there are China issues to consider. But other than that?