'We're not going to win,' British commander says of bid to quash Taliban

[susanbanks44]

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN; LONDON -- Britain's top commander in Afghanistan says the war will not end in victory, the latest indication of soul-searching as Canada's allies grapple with how to handle the rising power of the Taliban insurgency.

The blunt statement from Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith - "We're not going to win this war" - came just days after a leaked diplomatic cable hinted that the British ambassador in Kabul has a similarly dark forecast. The brigadier suggested that a negotiated settlement will be necessary.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Brig. Carleton-Smith

said a "decisive military victory" is not feasible and that NATO should lower its expectations about the outcome of the war. "If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that's precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this."

"That shouldn't make people uncomfortable," he said.

More:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081006.AFGHAN06/TPStory/International

[Lasher]

1. Cheney just had to run off on his neocon adventure in Iraq.

Bin Laden's escape from Tora Bora was a direct result, and now look where this neglect has led.

[Fumesucker]

2. In the really long run I don't think it would have mattered..

Even the full might of the US Military couldn't completely dominate Afghanistan.

The Afghan people and terrain have been chewing up and spitting out would be conquerors since roughly about the time history began, we aren't the first and I doubt we will be the last.

The Soviets pulled back a bloody stump and they had far better reason to be there and far shorter supply lines since they were right next door.

[Lasher]

3. Au contraire

We had a chance to capture bin Laden and most of his top lieutenants. But they escaped and surely have helped the Taliban recover. History indicates a long term occupation of Afghanistan is ill advised as you say, but we had time between 2001 and now to do what we needed. But we squandered that opportunity looking for WMD program related activities and freedom in Iraq. Now our position in Afghanistan and Pakistan has turned to crap and we're broke - just like bin Laden planned.

[Caliman73]

4. ???

Doggone it! That's just the "white flag of surrender" you betcha!!:sarcasm:

We have two Republican idiots that think that the US will do what no other country in history has been able to do including the Greek empire, the British empire, and the Soviet Union...conquer and subdue the Middle East AND Afghanistan. Unfortunately, in order not to appear weak, we have our candidates pushing for more involvement in Afghanistan as well. Hopefully when Obama wins he will realize that we cannot fight history and we will just get Bin Laden and get out of the quagmires.