from SLATE: >Latest War Assessment: U.S. Escalation Has Failed To Topple Taliban
> Despite a substantial military escalation, U.S. armed forces have failed to > inflict meaningful damage on the Taliban or to convince its leaders that they > should engage in a peace process with the Afghan government, reports the > Washington Post. The Taliban has largely sidestepped airstrikes and plans to > simply sit tight until U.S. troop numbers [allegedly are going to] fall again > next July, according to the most recent assessment of the war in Afghanistan. > "The insurgency seems to be maintaining its resilience," said a senior > Pentagon official privy to the assessment. Asked if he felt significant > progress had been made, the official said, "I don't see it." The assessment > found that replacements for killed Taliban leaders pop up almost immediately > and that insurgents driven out of certain territories simply wait until they > can return. According to U.S. officials, the Taliban has adopted a new mantra > in anticipation of the troop withdrawal next summer: "The end is near." > Debate over the war's progress has increased in the lead-up to a December > review of strategy by the Obama administration. Military officials are > expected to argue for an extended troop buildup, while critics of the war > contend that the conflict is a waste of American lives and money. > Read original story in The Washington Post > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/26/AR2010102606571.html] > | Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 < whatever became of the US Military's allergy to land wars in Asia? -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
