US general: New strategy needed to defeat Taliban - AP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

More escalation of the "good war"? Perhaps we should attack Cambodia to cut off the Taliban's supply sources...oh, wait.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan_235

KABUL – The commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan said Monday in an assessment of the war that a new strategy was needed to fight the Taliban, while NATO officials disclosed he is expected to separately request more troops.

Increasing U.S. forces is a hot-button issue that could ignite furious debate in Washington on the U.S. military's future in an increasingly unpopular war. Some Democratic senators have increased calls for a timeline to draw down troops.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal sent his strategic review of the Afghan war to the Pentagon and NATO headquarters on Monday. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates ordered the 60-day review to size up the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan as Taliban attacks rise and U.S. deaths spiral upward.

"The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort," McChrystal said in a statement Monday.

Afghanistan has long been seen as the "good" war by many in the United States, especially in comparison with U.S. efforts in Iraq, where U.S. troops are now drawing down. But some Democratic senators are beginning to question whether U.S. goals in Afghanistan are achievable, and when U.S. troops will be brought home.

[theoldman]

1. Counterinsurgency (COIN) may be the only answer other than

complete withdrawal. It will reduce the killing but will take 10 to 20 years to accomplish.

[jody]

8. Do you have a case where COIN has worked in 10 to 20 years? n/t

[madrchsod]

2. a war against people who did nothing to the usa...meanwhile---

Yemen is falling apart threating Saudi Arabia and other countries. the bad guys who took down the towers left Afghanistan and have moved into Yemen. oh well....Yemen`s next!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. How about New Jersey? Didn't they discover some "terrorists" in N.J.?

“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” H.L. Mencken

[Romulox]

4. New strategy: RETREAT!!!!! nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. They could call it, "Strategic Reallignment" and cover their asses.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. +1

:thumbsup:

[coalition_unwilling]

6. Here's a suggestion for a strategy: declare "victory" and withdraw! - n/t

[jody]

9. Obama selected McChrystal because he had a new strategy but it's just old failed strategy with new

buzz words.

The only viable strategy is to declare "Mission Accomplished" and withdraw our troops.