E.J.Armstrong
31st August 2009, 04:10 AM
'...General McChrystal says the aim should be for Afghan forces to take the lead but their army will not be ready to do that for three years and it will take much longer for the police.
And he will warn that villages have to be taken from the Taliban and held, not merely taken.
General McChrystal also wants more engagement with the Taliban fighters and he believes that 60% of the problem would go away if they could be found jobs. ...'
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8230017.stm
Together with the much too belated recognition that you do not win over a country by killing huge numbers of innocent people this man is talking the most sense heard from the US military for decades.
What a pity he was not in evidence when Bush was shaming the USA. Hopefully Obama will now apply this common sense to US relationships in other areas of the world.
Way to go Stanley.
And he will warn that villages have to be taken from the Taliban and held, not merely taken.
General McChrystal also wants more engagement with the Taliban fighters and he believes that 60% of the problem would go away if they could be found jobs. ...'
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8230017.stm
Together with the much too belated recognition that you do not win over a country by killing huge numbers of innocent people this man is talking the most sense heard from the US military for decades.
What a pity he was not in evidence when Bush was shaming the USA. Hopefully Obama will now apply this common sense to US relationships in other areas of the world.
Way to go Stanley.