RECOVERY WORK - U.S. Marines work to remove the wings of a downed French F-2000 Mirage aircraft in the Bakwa District, Regional Command West, Afghanistan, May 27, 2011. The Marines assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Forward, worked along with French and Italian forces to conduct an 81-mile combat logistics patrol to retrieve the French jet without incident in the Bakwa District. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Theresa SengThere Might Never Be A Good Time To Get Out Of Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
If Britain and America are to withdraw their troops, they must do so on their own terms, writes Malcolm Rifkind.
Adlai Stevenson once remarked that “making peace is harder than making war”. Both President Obama and David Cameron would find it difficult to demur. Reports in Washington and London refer to disputes between army commanders and their political masters as to whether a substantial drawdown of troops from Afghanistan should begin this year.
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My Comment: Malcolm Rifkind has a point. I have been following the Afghan war since the beginning, and I have never met a better time (until now) for us to make a firm commitment to leave Afghanistan. Unfortunately .... I know we will not. The Afghan war has evolved into a conflict of commerce .... there is too much money to be made by too many interest groups who now have a vested financial interest to keep the war in Afghanistan going .... both on the Taliban/Pakistan/Afghan government side .... and ours.
Sighhhh .... am I cynical this morning .... yup.