How is this NOT The 'Nam? And how can it possibly end any differently?

[panzerfaust]

... Taliban fighters had struck with surprise, stealth and familiarity with the ground, executing the sort of ambush that Afghan guerrillas have mastered for generations.

The Americans, seasoned by years of war here and in Iraq, would seek to create an intricately violent response, designed to undo the odds, save the pinned soldiers and kill the insurgents who, for a moment, had shown themselves.

Second Lt. Justin R. Smith, the platoon leader, called for help from an artillery battery, then radioed Sgt. Craig W. Tanner, the squad leader on the opposite side. Each man had found what cover he could. The platoon would fight where it was....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/world/asia/20ambush.html?ref=world

Except for satellite bombs having replaced fast-movers, 155s, and Cobras - sounds just the same. Even the elders are there.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. We could withdraw soon

before the count of U.S. dead reaches 50,000. That would be a difference.

And in the end, the country will be ruled by taliban extremists, not communists. That will be a difference, and not a good one.

[MADem]

2. The way things are going, the Taleb will probably have free rein in Pakistan before too long.

Unless something substantial happens there to stabilize the situation.

[wuvuj]

3. If the great power....

...of the 21st century....a version of WWII Germany...can just win one for the Gipper...what is to stop them from taking over the whole world?

We MUST win this war...so we can subjugate the people of the entire world and sell them stuff. We simply must.....? :think:

[thunder rising]

4. It is the same story with one exception ... the Taliban don't "hug" ... yet

Hugging is the tactic to go nearly hand-to-hand in order to negate firepower advantages (paraphrased from a la Drang site)

[stillcool]

5. Here's how its different...