Well Afghanistan is a place where AQ hangs out. No it doesnt. AQ is in NW Pakistan. There is a line on a map that differentiates between the two.

The former is a sort of a country that is barely a country. As I understand it its an area occupied by tribes with a few cities where government happens. Everything else is banditry. The Gov’t tries to keep the banditry to an acceptable level. The latter isn’t even a sort of a country but is assigned to the Paks because nobody else wants it.

There is a whole arc across central Asia that is wild. These are the focus of our attention only because OBL and his gang are holed up there.

Which leads me to my point. What could be the purpose of a substantial increase in our activity in Afghanistan? Whats the end point? How will we define victory?

The Soviets got handed their heads in that place because they tried to control it. We apparently have enough sense thus far not to try that. We’ve got some hunting parties out hunting. We’ll get the game eventually. But the 5th Armored Division isnt going to be a factor.

Your comparison of AQ to a scorpion is apt.