A U.S. soldier from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C., walks through a village during Operation Alamo Sweep in southeastern Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reeba Critser / 28th Public Affairs Detachment. (Photo from the New Republic)U.N. Agrees Afghan War Cannot Be Won Militarily -- Swiss Info
KABUL (Reuters) - The war in Afghanistan cannot be won militarily and success is only possible through political means including dialogue between all relevant parties, the United Nations' top official in the country said on Monday.
His comments come after Britain's military commander in Afghanistan said the war could not be won and that the goal was to reduce the insurgency to a level where it was no longer a strategic threat and could be dealt with by the Afghan army.
Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith said if the Taliban were willing to talk, that might be "precisely the sort of progress" needed to end the insurgency.
"I've always said to those that talk about the military surge ... what we need most of all is a political surge, more political energy," Kai Eide, the U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan, told a news conference in Kabul.
"We all know that we cannot win it militarily. It has to be won through political means. That means political engagement.
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My Comment: Sigh ..... the U.N. is doing what it always does .... looking for solutions that are not there.