Afghanistan Part Deux:

The graveyard of empires, or as it is more commonly called, Afghanistan, probably can't be turned around in 18 months. At least with what we have been doing so far. I would like to think Obama may change our strategy from what we have been to what he and McChrystal call the "hearts and minds strategy". Obviously wiping Afghans out as brutally as possible doesn't work, as shown by the Russians. Also, the English strategy of invading Afghanistan then leaving behind a small contingent in a poorly defended fort similarly didn't work.

If we are serious about improving the living conditions of Afghans an perhaps building them some economy? The big question is how do we rebuild a septic system much less a economy while fighting a well-integrated insurgency? The more successful the insurgency is at destroying the economy, the more they disenfranchise people with the government. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. My idea, bribe the heck out of some of the "Taliban" groups. The idea of the "Taliban" as one cohesive group is a myth, these groups don't even interact with each other. My favorite term, its an open-source insurgency.

My personal pick for best op-ed on Afghanistan: Eugene Robinson.