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GySgt, I have one coveat to add to your statements about NATO. Canada is currently the leader of the NATO mission in Afghanistan and has not been timidly moving forward. Canadian casualties are reported weekly and there is intense fighting going on now. What you're saying implies that NATO only has the ability, if it would quit its whining, to hold the fort until America arrives. What a sad twist of reality.
Canada is a part of that anglo English speaking alliance that always bears the burden of our efforts. The most dangerous region is in the south where Canada, the U.S., and Britian are located. NATO hasn't the ability to be anything more than national guard abroad because Europe has refused to act in accordance to what it discovered during the Bosnia/Kosovo campaign.
How long will America, Britain, Canada and other NATO countries remain in Afghanistan? It really doesn't matter because after they have gone the Taliban or someone like them will still be there. They win by simply out waiting the West. This is the lesson of history. America can arrive tomorrow or in 10 years, it won't make a difference. You're dealing with a fractured country made up of tribal sections that are multi-generational in nature.
Of all of Alexander the Great's conquests, Afghanistan was among the hardest and most time consuming. And of all the troops that Alexander left behind to garrison his new domains, an astonishing 95% were left in what is now modern Afghanistan. The British failed to conquer the country in the 1880's just as the Soviets failed 100 years later. Those who ignore the past are condemned to relive it. This is exactly what our leaders are doing today.
Which is why enough people have stated that dealing with this region will be a multi-generational effort. Nobody, except for idiots and pundits are arguing that this is or was supposed to be a quick fix. The problem was and is never the malicious overlords who are easily stripped of power. It was always the tribes underneath once that Overlord was released from duty who have to cope with freedom. Alexander had to dedicate a lengthy campaign to defeating Afghanistan. We dropped the Tali-Ban from power in weeks. We are not repeating history, because we do not seek to conquer or to colonize. We have offered and given Afghanistan to the people and when they are able to defend their government by themselves, we will be released from the pressure. Much like what occurred in Iraq. The tribal themes within are the same but far much persuasive in Afghanistan.
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