It now looks as if A-stan is no longer salvageable

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

The dems chose to politicize the killing of UBL.

Will Obama become the president who killed Bin Laden but lost the war he said was the good war?

[Bad Dog]

Not in the MSM.  They will either declare it a victory, blame it on Bush or, ignore it completely.

[DumbAss Tanker]

War in that part of the world has always been something you could only win if you were willing to go in big and stay for generations, killing anybody who got out of line and several of their relatives to boot.  In the post-Colonial world, and with our four-year Presidential election cycles, and tech-heavy but rifleman-light military, it is structurally impossible for us to fight a successful long war there.  We can either go in and blow up everything dangerous then leave, or not go in at all.  Everything else becomes more political than military, but ultimately futile.

[JohnnyReb]

War in that part of the world has always been something you could only win if you were willing to go in big and stay for generations, killing anybody who got out of line and several of their relatives to boot.  In the post-Colonial world, and with our four-year Presidential election cycles, and tech-heavy but rifleman-light military, it is structurally impossible for us to fight a successful long war there.  We can either go in and blow up everything dangerous then leave, or not go in at all.  Everything else becomes more political than military, but ultimately futile.

I think it's time to pull out....then on the way out, blow up power plants, dams, water systems, bridges, roads, everything the insurgents haven't already blown up.

[Boudicca]

I think it's time to pull out....then on the way out, blow up power plants, dams, water systems, bridges, roads, everything the insurgents haven't already blown up.

Well, that wouldn't take long at all!
And DAT, you are spot on with your analysis, sir!

[docstew]

I think it's time to pull out....then on the way out, blow up power plants, dams, water systems, bridges, roads, everything the insurgents haven't already blown up.

Take off and nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Seriously, what resources do they have that are a vital American interest? Afghanistan is a perfect example of a desolate wasteland that could be destroyed and no one would notice.

We demolish everything they own, plow the crops under and sow the fields with salt, and then tell them, "Don't make us come back, or we'll be angry. You wouldn't like us when we're angry". It's a little medieval, but it's what they understand.

[thundley4]

Take off and nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Seriously, what resources do they have that are a vital American interest? Afghanistan is a perfect example of a desolate wasteland that could be destroyed and no one would notice.

We demolish everything they own, plow the crops under and sow the fields with salt, and then tell them, "Don't make us come back, or we'll be angry. You wouldn't like us when we're angry". It's a little medieval, but it's what they understand.

Whatever happened to all the rare earth minerals that were found there?  http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/14/report-1-trillion-in-untapped-minerals-found-in-afghanistan/

China is probably getting them.

[docstew]

Whatever happened to all the rare earth minerals that were found there?  http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/14/report-1-trillion-in-untapped-minerals-found-in-afghanistan/

China is probably getting them.

I know about those. They were found while I was in country, was a topic of conversation for about 2 days, til someone asked the question "How will we mine them and transport them out of here?"