The perception remains, we instituted certain measures and have not been able to deliver. We came really close, but not having the ability to confront extreme Islamist tribes and Taliban in Pakistan, doomed our efforts. As long as the blood was being spilt on the Afgani side of the border there was no trouble for our convoys, but now with the pressure on the Pakistani government to shut down the terrorists and act as a responsible nation, the convoys are at risk. Perhaps in the struggle to maintain his government, the President of Pakistan will be forced to engage the renegade Pashtun tribes. Then we will see who rules Pakistan.

I wouldn’t like to be involved in trying to sort any of that out.

Bio-diesel has been discussed before. But paying locals to grow a portion of our side’s rations is something that I had not thought of but it sure makes good sense.

Not only does this kind of market-based endeavor help out Afghanistan, it also clobbers ISI et al right between the eyes.
Their influence, along with that of the Taliban, requires economic dependency. Productivity is poison to them.

Good show!

To defend the taxpayer’s millions of dollars invested in Afghanistan reconstruction program, move two integrated divisions with substantial air element in the area, in consultation with Kabul. Let Indian pressures build up from East and West on Pakistan so that our embassy or similar establishments are not targeted in future.

Two divisions worth of Indian boots on Afghan ground in Pakistan’s “strategic depth” is America’s ticket out of there.

We must supply our forces from the north, not the south.

There are many ways to supply our forces.

1. Russian rail system

2. Trans-Caucasus route into Afghanistan

3. Russian black market munitions

4. Build arsenal in Afghanistan

4a. Build munitions factories in Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara regions of Afghanistan

4b. Buy all of Afghanistan’s opium, convert 90% into biodiesel, convert 10% into morphine.

4c. Buy Afghan wheat crop, use it to feed our troops

[5. In theory, if Iran ever gets liberated, it may be possible to supply our troops in Afghanistan through Iran. However, this possibility is very unlikely for the time being.]

We need to reconfigure our logistics into Afghanistan. I have said this so often in the last few months that I am probably sounding like a broken record by now.

We are in for a long siege. As long as we keep a level head about all of this and make sure we keep our forces well supplied, there is little chance of any major military disaster. Those are big ifs though, given America’s domestic political situation.

As it is, a naval blockade against Pakistan would probably turn out the lights on the Pakistani economy. Invading Pakistan itself might not even be necessary to bring it to its knees.

I have seen absolutely no news that anyone was killed on either side in the arson attack. So the terrorists just waltzed merrily in, said “excuse me, please” to the NATO soldiers who were supposed to be guarding the depot (I have to believe if they were American soldiers, some bullets would have been used), whereupon the NATO soldiers gracefully stood back, the trucks were blowed up, and everyone returned to their corners to sip tea with not a shot fired in anger.

Ooooooo-kay. Tell me again what good does it do to stay in NATO?

Like many poverty stricken areas, Pakistan would respond best on the street level to the old adage: “If the mobs are getting unruly, hire half of them to shoot the other half”.

In strategic planning, overthrow the mullahs in Tehran, supply Afghanistan via their common border with Iran. As an afterthought, Iran has a common border with Pakistan. Arm and train Indian forces up to a fairly modern level and impose a total blockade of bribe money and oil against Pakistan and Pakistani nationals worldwide. Then start whacking some of the most corrupt and extreme Islamist nutjobs in the ISI as a warning of what is in store for all of them. Start planning a joint action with India to reunite the subcontinent.

The main issue is geography and lack of alternate land routes. The enemy knows this, and we do to. What we should be doing is taking advantage of this, and look at this as an opportunity to kill these guys, as they try to attack the convoys.