Quote:
Originally Posted by RIJIMMY
Yeah, very large = 3000. Wow.
These people think in generations, not years. They'll go back to goat herding and poppy growing until the troops leave and then rise again. there is no economic light at the end of the tunnel and in 10, 20, 30, 40 years they will still be dirt poor and in the words of the POTUS will be "clinging to their guns and religion".
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If they have the backing of US drones and air strikes I'd think that could be a very potent force. Reports seem to indicate that over the past year we've been killing a lot more of the enemy's leadership. It also looks like they're working cross border into Pakistan as Obama's policy is to treat both countries as part of the same problem.
Afghans had guns and religion before the Taliban, who were a recent political phenomenon, and currently lack support from the Afghan people. Last I saw they estimate only 8 percent actually support the Taliban and 60 percent have confidence in the countries future.
The strategy looks to be to help usher them to the tipping point (before we get out) and not stay any longer.
-spence