tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571201204115952544.post8271859830583425385..comments2024-03-15T00:21:37.019-07:00Comments on The Trench: Petraeus’s Hard SellJames Gundunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141055666432969361noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571201204115952544.post-90426961849465894902010-07-11T02:51:33.030-07:002010-07-11T02:51:33.030-07:00With Iraq as a mosel it is cynical to try to form ...With Iraq as a mosel it is cynical to try to form anti-Taliban militias. The Sunnis that cut out AlQueda for the American forces are now in a sectarian and ethnic armed struggle with the Shia over areas of control and criminal activities. Good for the USA because it has achieved its own objective of closing down the insurgency but the same for people living in the country.<br /><br />The Afghanistan situation is and has always been a tribal nightmare. Divide and rule is effective but it is cynical. The British were the past masters. They controlled continents by doing it.Pitcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11573155885808295104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571201204115952544.post-19330523649138471492010-07-10T14:56:55.825-07:002010-07-10T14:56:55.825-07:00That's the message coming out of Afghanistan l...That's the message coming out of Afghanistan lately. The tribal situation is as much a minefield as the roads. Washington needs to make it happen though. Definitely one of the big storylines to watch over the next year.James Gundunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16141055666432969361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571201204115952544.post-40353090103008564742010-07-10T10:19:25.064-07:002010-07-10T10:19:25.064-07:00Patreus is in a no win situation.
If he engages t...Patreus is in a no win situation. <br />If he engages the Taliban he has to take many body bags into the field with his troops. <br />If he does not engage, he is at a stand still.<br />The Afghan people have to consolidate their own factions. It is their country.Tao Dao Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16229628652152584292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571201204115952544.post-91553143842842409462010-07-10T03:37:57.828-07:002010-07-10T03:37:57.828-07:00For anyone, Petraeus included, to try to gel toget...For anyone, Petraeus included, to try to gel together the factions and groupings, even those who are pro-US, seems futile to me. A bit like glueing feathers together hoping for a duck. It won't happen IMO,James. Like leading political figures, all general's careers end in failure one way or another.TONY @oakroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08304486783392151133noreply@blogger.com