I'm not sure how we can "win" in Afghanistan/Pakistan - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 02-09-2009, 10:05 PM

What is the endgame? What is the best-case scenario?

Perhaps a case has been made that the best-case already occurred, and has failed. There is no scenario where the USA can pull out and everything be kosher. And there is also no scenario where the USA can wipe out the Taliban. Hell, Pakistan can't even control Pakistan, and we have our hand tied there while OBL hangs out and thumbs his nose at us.

Economically bring Afghanistan into the 21st century? Good luck. Get rid of the poppy trade? Good luck. Wage war on Pakistan? Good luck.

We've already done the easy stuff. All that is left is the hard stuff. Seems to me that the more you study this, the less likely it seems 30k more troops is going to really do much.

All-American · 02-09-2009, 10:17 PM

Answer: Osama's head on a pike.

Next question, please?

MikeWaters · 02-09-2009, 10:24 PM

It can be argued that Pakistan must be incentivized to eradicate the Taliban.

Carrots have not worked.

The other alternative is the stick. However that starts to get dangerous when you are dealing with a nuclear state.

The fundamental problem in all of this is that it is close to impossible to empower moderates and liberals when the conservatives/fundamentalists are cold-blooded killers. When a country is in the grip of criminal gangs, then what?

Civil war?

Three of our most bothersome simmering "civil wars" are all three fueled by the West's drug use: Afghan/Pakistan, Mexico, and Columbia. We are beset by secret combinations.

02-09-2009, 10:05 PM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I'm not sure how we can "win" in Afghanistan/Pakistan What is the endgame? What is the best-case scenario? Perhaps a case has been made that the best-case already occurred, and has failed. There is no scenario where the USA can pull out and everything be kosher. And there is also no scenario where the USA can wipe out the Taliban. Hell, Pakistan can't even control Pakistan, and we have our hand tied there while OBL hangs out and thumbs his nose at us. Economically bring Afghanistan into the 21st century? Good luck. Get rid of the poppy trade? Good luck. Wage war on Pakistan? Good luck. We've already done the easy stuff. All that is left is the hard stuff. Seems to me that the more you study this, the less likely it seems 30k more troops is going to really do much.

02-09-2009, 10:17 PM	#2
All-American Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,420	Answer: Osama's head on a pike. Next question, please? __________________ εν αρχη ην ο λογος

02-09-2009, 10:24 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	It can be argued that Pakistan must be incentivized to eradicate the Taliban. Carrots have not worked. The other alternative is the stick. However that starts to get dangerous when you are dealing with a nuclear state. The fundamental problem in all of this is that it is close to impossible to empower moderates and liberals when the conservatives/fundamentalists are cold-blooded killers. When a country is in the grip of criminal gangs, then what? Civil war? Three of our most bothersome simmering "civil wars" are all three fueled by the West's drug use: Afghan/Pakistan, Mexico, and Columbia. We are beset by secret combinations.