So consider what George Will has to say about Afghanistan. More to say on the return of the “Teflon General” tomorrow-but suffice it to say, I’m still not necessarily a fan of the man. Fox Fallon must have had his reasons not to like the guy-and I’d like to know more about those -and less about the success of the “surge” Which was neither a surge and not a success-not by the standards that the were set for the surge-e.g. giving the Iraqis time to solve their political mess. They got the time-they never solved the mess. Are you really surprised at that?
Of course when the Afghan’s screw up any gains that are made-it will never be there fault, or Petreaus’s. But it seems pretty clear that William the Bloody will be happy-the war there will go on and on and on with no end in sight. The war and occupation stretching for ever into the future, with no realistic chance of success.
More on that tomorrow. When it comes to Afghanistan-as with Iraq, I am a total pessimist. No amount of counter insurgency will fix either the Afghan or Iraqi people. They both have had years to change and haven’t. Don’t think they are going to start now.