The logistical difficulties were evident when the Georgian Russian conflict blew up. The fact is that without a secure land route into Afghanistan via Pakistan even if 1600 km long then we cannot supply our troops and NATO forces. That mean we can only last for the spring offensive and the hit into Pakistan’s Northwest Territories.

Afghanistan is not worth it. Iraq was, but Afghanistan will take decades to modernize just a little. Without a better system of roads and trade to make the farmers able to afford other than opium crops, the subsistence level of Afghanistan will stay and be unable, even if they wanted, to forestall the Taliban. Taliban has a secure landmass to breed and secure villages in Pakistan. They have short supply lines; we do not.

The only alternative appears from the map is access to Georgia from the Black Sea. And across Armenia to Azerbaijan to the Caspian Sea and then through Turkmenistan.

The plus to this would help Georgia and increase their economy and help secure them from Russia adventurism. Armenia is a Russian puppet but their economy may make them amenable to using the rails and roads to transport supplies to Azerbaijan. Now Azerbaijan would be very happy with this arrangement and I think so will Turkmenistan. They all want help from being swallowed by Russia or China.

Now the major problem is to get Russia to agree. They do not want us to support Georgia since Putin is furious with Georgia and they do not want US to gain influence in that region.

The question is the goal to eliminate the Taliban and modernize Afghanistan a viable goal? I do not think so. The Taliban can just retreat into Pakistan and since they live there, a waiting game is against us. We can hurt the Taliban but they have secure lands deeper into Pakistan with the agreement of control over the Swat Valley. Baitullah Mehsud and the Taliban are slowly conquering Pakistan. Unless we want to take on Pakistan this is a conflict we cannot win with a limited war.