A U.S. Army soldier scans for insurgent forces as small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades hit near U.S. and Afghan military positions inside the village of Barge Matal during Operation Mountain Fire in eastern Nuristan province, Afghanistan, July 12, 2009. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew C. MoellerFrom The American Interest:
The war in Afghanistan has been nearly invisible to the American public since its initial combat phase ended in early 2002, but it has rapidly come once again into view. Indeed, the war is now poised to become perhaps the most controversial and divisive issue in U.S. defense policy.
Managing this war will pose difficult problems both in Afghanistan and here at home. The strategic case for waging war is stronger than that for disengaging, but not by much: The war is a close call on the merits. The stakes for the United States are largely indirect; it will be an expensive war to wage; like most wars, its outcome is uncertain; even success is unlikely to yield a modern, prosperous Switzerland of the Hindu Kush; and as a counterinsurgency campaign its conduct is likely to increase losses and violence in the short term in exchange for a chance at stability in the longer term.
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My Comment: Another sobering assessment on the war in Afghanistan. The author tries to be optimistic ..... but even in his "hopeful" comments, he realizes that there are inadequate troops on the ground to successfully fight a counter insurgency campaign, ....and that any commitment to Afghanistan will still entail a long and hard battle that will last years.
This is a long article, but it is easy to read and it eloquently lays out most of the difficulties in the Afghanistan campaign. His assessment on Pakistan is also a sober assessment, and another reason why this article is a must read.