The Torch highlights some good solid COIN advice found at Ricks’ blog, and one excerpt is worth repeating here:
“7. Most important of all. The enemy must understand that you are ready to go to the end to win the war. That means a resolve for the long slog and a stomach for attrition. If the enemy thinks that you develop feet of clay rather quickly, he will continue fighting.”
Oh, yes indeed. As I’ve stated before, this is where I think we as a nation are headed off the rails. I hope we adjust our course before it gets adjusted for us.
I have heard more than one administration and pentagon official attach a timeline to our current Afghanistan surge. Certainly seems like a good time for Mullah O to lay low and regroup.
It may take decades to win in Afghanistan. It is not the same country as Iraq. The main factor that will determine how rapidly this conflict comes to a conclusion is the effectiveness of the
Afghan Army and Police in fighting their own war.