In the next 18 months, with a properly resourced counterinsurgency strategy, we can create conditions for the majority of insurgents to lay down their arms; train battle-tested Afghan Security Forces to lead the fight against a degraded enemy; isolate al-Qaeda and target their fighters more effectively; and help Afghan leaders build a nation that will never again serve as a base for attacks against America and our allies.
In today's military, toxic leadership at the senior levels is a pervasive problem that is bleeding talent and undermining our military's ability to win wars and conflicts.
As 30,000 additional American soldiers are deployed to Afghanistan, the U.S. is also focusing on reintegrating Taliban insurgents into Afghan society. There has been speculation that this new focus is part of a quick-exit strategy for the U.S. While reintegrating as many local Taliban fighters as possible is a vital part of the counterinsurgency strategy, premature negotiations with Taliban leaders based in Pakistan could easily backfire. The Obama Administration must bear in mind that insurgents are more likely to negotiate if they fear defeat on the battlefield. The Taliban have steadily regained influence in Afghanistan over the last four years and U.S. and NATO forces must first weaken the Taliban on the battlefield before engaging in serious negotiations with the leadership.
more in the sky right now. we just don t know sticks. i tell you, it stinks. the ribs, nothing.ribs jessica, the criticism of the president has become quite bipartisan. and it looks like the threat ofe china has become bipartisan lik as well. with the china committee. it looks like e al l the democratsnboard ,a wt least the hawks, are coming on board with it. th do you think thaint the presidet has the strength?, he h i mean, i knowas h thee hascapao the mental capability from being over the foreign relations and understand diplomacy, but it looks likes this is a threat. does he have that defense backg defense th background to defend the country, especially when you have people like robert gates and other peoplunte to say he can t make the call,ll he never makes the call. , so it s not to having general petraeus as your president or general mcchrystal. right. this is someone who hasn t served, but it is someonl estal who has served in the senate, like you said,ea on the foreign re