Old Soldier
2009-05-20 19:29:58
C: I wish it was easier. I didn’t know much about the region until I did my time there in 90-91 and came home frustrated with our half-victory. We sure could have kicked out Saddam and restored the Iraqi democratic government a lot easier in ’91 than 12 years later.
Afghanistan requires a different definition of victory. Before 911, it was a safe-haven for AQ to plot spectacular acts of international terrorism. Now they plot attacks on the next village over – that’s a big improvement.
We need to find efficient ways to keep knocking down AQ and the Taliban without getting mired down in nation-building a bunch of tribes. As long as they are hiding in caves instead taking flight lessons or assembling dirty-bombs, we win.
