a reply to ADE #58 – I think you count on too much enmity between the Taleban and Pakistan. Remember that the Taleban was the ISI’s creation, and even today there is still a surprising amount of Taleban support inside the Pakistani armed forces. (Our drone strikes only began to work when the targets were no longer made known to the Pakistani military in advance)

When the Taleban threatens Pakistan, then they are at war. But as soon as the Taleban remembers that they need to leave the homeland govm’t alone, then they will once again be free to do whatever they want. (and in most places already are)

Delay is NOT the right strategy; consider this saying reportedly very popular among the Taleban, said by them in reference to the well equipped NATO troops: “They have all the watches, and we have all the time.”

Here is a link to a rather incredible strategy which could lead to success in Afghanistan – it’s a bit of a read, but it could work. It would require a major rethinking of US policy, though, and that may prevent it from ever being tried.

http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/wp-content/themes/stevenpressfield/one_tribe_at_a_time.pdf